The Very Best Remixes...Of The Very Best

I know these remixes have been all over the interwebs, but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to pass on two completely awesome re-takes of an already bumpin' song.

We here at TSRE aren't shy about proclaiming our love for the Esau Mwamwaya/Radioclit collaboration that is The Very Best. Their debut LP, set to drop on Green Owl this fall, is outrageously good. And "Warm Heart of Africa" is one of the best cuts on the record.

Recently, they released two amazing remixes from some big names: Architecture in Helsinki and Metronomy. The two takes are completely different from each other - and from the original - and really give the remixing artists' signature feel to The Very Best's track.

Architecture In Helsinki's remix is a horn heavy take on the tune that flirts with instrumentalism for a couple minutes before finally dropping a sample of TVB's vocals toward the end. This track has a wonderful summer jazz feel to it. Also, love the handclaps, which have been sadly absent from these pages as of late. So thanks for that Architecture.

The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Architecture in Helsinki Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Metronomy takes a completely different approach, from AiH's organic take. Following their usual steez inclinations, Metronomy roboticize (it's a word now) the vocals to make it a slower electro jam. As this version goes on it builds nicely, and definitely gets me bumping full on by the end. I dig it.

The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Metronomy Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

And, for your listening/comparing pleasure, the original:

The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (f. Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend) (YSI) (filesavr)

I know these remixes have been all over the interwebs, but I couldn't pass up an opportunity to pass on two completely awesome re-takes of an already bumpin' song.<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364067681877154210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pqxCcXgTSFo/SnD_Ivlw2aI/AAAAAAAAAIo/G8wMNqtNa8o/s320/the-very-best-warm-heart-of-africaTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" /><div>We here at TSRE aren't shy about proclaiming our love for the Esau Mwamwaya/Radioclit collaboration that is The Very Best. Their debut LP, set to drop on Green Owl this fall, is outrageously good. And "Warm Heart of Africa" is one of the best cuts on the record.</div><div><br /></div><div>Recently, they released two amazing remixes from some big names: Architecture in Helsinki and Metronomy. The two takes are completely different from each other - and from the original - and really give the remixing artists' signature feel to The Very Best's track.</div><div><br /></div><div>Architecture In Helsinki's remix is a horn heavy take on the tune that flirts with instrumentalism for a couple minutes before finally dropping a sample of TVB's vocals toward the end. This track has a wonderful summer jazz feel to it. Also, love the handclaps, which have been sadly absent from these pages as of late. So thanks for that Architecture.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Architecture in Helsinki Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyQ1ZucVhnYVBIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04warmheartofafricaarchitectur" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Metronomy takes a completely different approach, from AiH's organic take. Following their usual steez inclinations, Metronomy roboticize (it's a word now) the vocals to make it a slower electro jam. As this version goes on it builds nicely, and definitely gets me bumping full on by the end. I dig it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (Metronomy Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyQ1ZucVhoMlVLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03warmheartofafricametronomyr" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>And, for your listening/comparing pleasure, the original:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa (f. Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyQ1ZucVhUME9Ga1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/warmheartofafrica_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div>

Songs I've Slept On/Better With Age: Karen O and N.A.S.A, Eyedea & Abilities

Have you ever had this happen to you?

Step 1. Listen to a song enough that it gets really really stuck in your head, but don't pay attention to the song name/artist.

Step 2. Find yourself singing the song to yourself later and have literally ZERO idea where you know the song from, what song it is, what artist it is, or anything at all identifiable about it.

Step 3. Search through your 50 most recently played tracks to find the song.

Step 4. Rock out to the song non-stop.

No? Just me? Well it happens to me frequently. In fact, it happened to me just yesterday. I found myself singing the Karen O hook from this insanely catchy N.A.S.A. track as I walked down the street, without being able to identify where it was from. IDIOT.

This track, "Strange Enough," is typical N.A.S.A. fare in that it features about a billion guest spots and melts faces. The original is off of their debut album Spirit of Apollo, but I somehow overlooked it the first time around. This Mr. Oizo remix is fantastic, and it's all over my playcounts these days.

N.A.S.A. ft. Karen O, Ol' Dirty Bastard & Fatlip - Strange Enough (Mr. Oizo Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Another song that I've been sleeping on for a while is the first single from Eyedea and Abilities latest By The Throat. "Sleeping on" isn't exactly the right word for it - it's more that I just haven't found the right moment to post it up. But it's got a pretty sick industrial-ish crunky beat, and I really like Eyedea's phlow. Reminds me a little of Saul Williams' "List of Demands (Reparations)" which is to say that it's pretty much unstoppable.

Eyedea & Abilities - This Story (YSI) (filesavr)

Saul Williams - List of Demands (Reparations) (YSI) (filesavr)

Have you ever had this happen to you? <div><br /><div>Step 1. Listen to a song enough that it gets really really stuck in your head, but don't pay attention to the song name/artist.</div><div>Step 2. Find yourself singing the song to yourself later and have literally ZERO idea where you know the song from, what song it is, what artist it is, or anything at all identifiable about it.</div><div>Step 3. Search through your 50 most recently played tracks to find the song.</div><div>Step 4. Rock out to the song non-stop.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364058430133717842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFsUzK-bASHOUw4RXW19PcutWEvowSCAUMYjAwqjDydyN6xQKhb-8YZOHh2LdbmfD0vy5wo2aXeRhI6sX4ROElKlefDlAKmTrLB2ujYimysUgJ6dn__84DJJgou_JmNwMb9tOmSx-F5s/s320/stuckinyourheadTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" /></div><div>No? Just me? Well it happens to me frequently. In fact, it happened to me just yesterday. I found myself singing the Karen O hook from this insanely catchy N.A.S.A. track as I walked down the street, without being able to identify where it was from. IDIOT.</div><div><br /></div><div>This track, "Strange Enough," is typical N.A.S.A. fare in that it features about a billion guest spots and melts faces. The original is off of their debut album <i>Spirit of Apollo</i>, but I somehow overlooked it the first time around. This Mr. Oizo remix is fantastic, and it's all over my playcounts these days.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>N.A.S.A. ft. Karen O, Ol' Dirty Bastard & Fatlip - Strange Enough (Mr. Oizo Remix) </b>(<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyQ1ZsT01GR0VLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01strangeenoughftkarenool" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Another song that I've been sleeping on for a while is the first single from Eyedea and Abilities latest <i>By The Throat</i>. "Sleeping on" isn't exactly the right word for it - it's more that I just haven't found the right moment to post it up. But it's got a pretty sick industrial-ish crunky beat, and I really like Eyedea's phlow. Reminds me a little of Saul Williams' "List of Demands (Reparations)" which is to say that it's pretty much unstoppable.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Eyedea & Abilities - This Story</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyQ1ZnUzgzMWxMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/08thisstory" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Saul Williams - List of Demands (Reparations)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyQ1ZnUzg1aVpMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05listofdemandsreparations_2" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div></div>

A Look Back: Endtroducing...

I probably will not be able to do justice to the idea that I would like to express here, but anyways here it goes. I have been ruminating recently on the idea of nature vs. nurture in my musical evolution and subsequently about the music that helped form the basis of my current musical tastes. While not relying very heavily on the standard classics, Depeche Mode, Midnight Oil and Aerosmith resonate dimly in my childhood and hopefully sooner or later I will talk more about them.

The focus here though is a later album that was not only a watershed point in my musical tastes, but also I feel for popular music as a whole. DJ Shadow's Endtroducing... really enlightened me to the realm of turntablism and hip hop. Taking a broader approach, Endtroducing... as a true work of art, rather than a mere experiment or test, proclaimed the arrival of the retro sample in modern music and really in an early stage, the omnipresent mashup. DJ Shadow's ability to sew together dusty and obscure record samples into songs that are both, big beat, but also beautiful prove that sampling was here to stay. From hip hop mainstays like Talib Kweli and Timbaland, electronic artists like RJD2, and then peripheral artists such as Danger Mouse, who combine disparate musical elements, sampling has become central to what hipsters and popsters alike consider popular music. Rather than remaining an underground trend, turntables and sampling are mainstream and here to stay.

Well, thank you DJ Shadow for transforming how we define and interpret music. While covering and reinterpretations have existed forever, the idea of patchwork music as art was pretty novel and important. Eleven or so years later, we're still living in DJ Shadow's shadow.

DJ Shadow - Organ Donor (YSI) (filesavr)
DJ Shadow - Midnight in a Perfect World (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV2DpxGhyphenhyphenwQFyjKCUwzNfz_eDd3-jMkmX_MLbAjSJtvvKUbMGHBrlk1Dv9OYwo86ZqjCKGkRVphyphenhyphenqiFyaTQl8-05XUyZeW_RUlKXcVZt_IIo_qc_gfvx6Z20eF6kjKJ7Afac3UM8EILbj/s1600-h/TSRE+DJ+Shadow.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363709566071891874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV2DpxGhyphenhyphenwQFyjKCUwzNfz_eDd3-jMkmX_MLbAjSJtvvKUbMGHBrlk1Dv9OYwo86ZqjCKGkRVphyphenhyphenqiFyaTQl8-05XUyZeW_RUlKXcVZt_IIo_qc_gfvx6Z20eF6kjKJ7Afac3UM8EILbj/s320/TSRE+DJ+Shadow.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 317px;" /></a>I probably will not be able to do justice to the idea that I would like to express here, but anyways here it goes. I have been ruminating recently on the idea of nature vs. nurture in my musical evolution and subsequently about the music that helped form the basis of my current musical tastes. While not relying very heavily on the standard classics, Depeche Mode, Midnight Oil and Aerosmith resonate dimly in my childhood and hopefully sooner or later I will talk more about them.<br /><br />The focus here though is a later album that was not only a watershed point in my musical tastes, but also I feel for popular music as a whole. DJ Shadow's <span style="font-style: italic;">Endtroducing...</span> really enlightened me to the realm of turntablism and hip hop. Taking a broader approach, <span style="font-style: italic;">Endtroducing...</span> as a true work of art, rather than a mere experiment or test, proclaimed the arrival of the retro sample in modern music and really in an early stage, the omnipresent mashup. DJ Shadow's ability to sew together dusty and obscure record samples into songs that are both, big beat, but also beautiful prove that sampling was here to stay. From hip hop mainstays like Talib Kweli and Timbaland, electronic artists like RJD2, and then peripheral artists such as Danger Mouse, who combine disparate musical elements, sampling has become central to what hipsters and popsters alike consider popular music. Rather than remaining an underground trend, turntables and sampling are mainstream and here to stay.<br /><br />Well, thank you DJ Shadow for transforming how we define and interpret music. While covering and reinterpretations have existed forever, the idea of patchwork music as art was pretty novel and important. Eleven or so years later, we're still living in DJ Shadow's shadow.<br /><br />DJ Shadow - Organ Donor (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyTGsxT005RlpMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/09organdonor" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />DJ Shadow - Midnight in a Perfect World (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyTGsxT003N0JMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/11midnightinaperfectworld" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)

Because It Bears Repeating: Listen To Jovi Rockwell

Gotta put some love out for this chica, Jovi Rockwell. I posted about her a couple weeks ago, but she definitely deserves some more facetime. I don't know too much about her - she's 22 years old, from Kingston, Jamaica, and completely blows up the songs she's on. I've only heard a handful of her tracks, but they bump like few others.

Plus, it's definitely cool to hear a female voice in reggae that's more than a gimmick - I feel like that scene (with which I am admittedly horribly unfamiliar) lacks strong ladies. There is a ton of room in the music game for voices like Rockwell - Santigold and M.I.A. don't fill the foreign lady quota - don't let them.

Rockwell caught some good pub by working on a track with Mr. Vegas on the brilliant Major Lazer debut, and hopefully will keep finding enough success to continue making music. A few notes about the songs below:

THIS FIRST SONG IS SO BALLER IT WILL MELT YOUR EYEBALLS. Seriously, I can't stop listening to this tune. I've had it for a month, and I've already listened to it approximately 30 times. That's like once daily. Which, honestly, seems light. Whooo this song is great.

Jovi Rockwell - Rizzla (YSI) (filesavr)

This second song shows off Jovi's voice a little more, and shows that she can hang with the big guns. She doesn't necessarily have the pipes of a Beyonce/Rihanna/Christina type, but she certainly has the spunk and bounce that's needed to carry a pop song. Heart attack.

Jovi Rockwell - Tonight (YSI) (filesavr)

And finally, her Major Lazer track. This track, in the context of the album, is a cooldown, a breath of air in a sweaty dancehall. Jovi picks up a decent song (the Mr. Vegas sections) and improves on it with simply her presence. I dig.

Major Lazer - Can't Stop Now (f. Mr. Vegas and Jovi Rockwell) (YSI) (filesavr)

Oh, also, she's a babe.

Gotta put some love out for this chica, Jovi Rockwell. I posted about her a couple weeks ago, but she definitely deserves some more facetime. I don't know too much about her - she's 22 years old, from Kingston, Jamaica, and completely blows up the songs she's on. I've only heard a handful of her tracks, but they bump like few others.<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363365220330740738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0CWR-BQGsEKCpttX5ECpXgRGaNGoHDkuzDDRyonGIFlsFKTQkneTlaxaFvp94fzuXE5wtfY0nMs7rXXa8hLozBR-5e33wQBgwZacZ7_9ANOy-pqHf_LNxCZW3W5zNY7QuVpc1ScSqgM/s320/JOVITSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" />Plus, it's definitely cool to hear a female voice in reggae that's more than a gimmick - I feel like that scene (with which I am admittedly horribly unfamiliar) lacks strong ladies. There is a ton of room in the music game for voices like Rockwell - Santigold and M.I.A. don't fill the foreign lady quota - don't let them.<br /><br />Rockwell caught some good pub by working on a track with Mr. Vegas on the brilliant Major Lazer debut, and hopefully will keep finding enough success to continue making music. A few notes about the songs below:<br /><br />THIS FIRST SONG IS SO BALLER IT WILL MELT YOUR EYEBALLS. Seriously, I can't stop listening to this tune. I've had it for a month, and I've already listened to it approximately 30 times. That's like once daily. Which, honestly, seems light. Whooo this song is great.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jovi Rockwell - Rizzla</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyYURNcklCSnAzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02rizzla_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><br />This second song shows off Jovi's voice a little more, and shows that she can hang with the big guns. She doesn't necessarily have the pipes of a Beyonce/Rihanna/Christina type, but she certainly has the spunk and bounce that's needed to carry a pop song. Heart attack.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jovi Rockwell - Tonight</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyYURNckllaFNGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/tonight" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><br />And finally, her Major Lazer track. This track, in the context of the album, is a cooldown, a breath of air in a sweaty dancehall. Jovi picks up a decent song (the Mr. Vegas sections) and improves on it with simply her presence. I dig.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Major Lazer - Can't Stop Now (f. Mr. Vegas and Jovi Rockwell)</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyYURNcklUME1LSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03cantstopnowfmrvegasjov" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<div><br /></div><div>Oh, also, she's a babe.</div>

Thom Yorke Makes Everything Seem Alright

Man, anytime Thom Yorke does something you can pretty much guarantee that it will be newsworthy. He's playing a live gig. He's doing a song for the Twilight movie. He's recording a cover for a cool compilation. Here's the thing though - it's newsworthy because it's probably really freaking good. That live show would have been amazing to see. The song for New Moon will probably be really dope. And this live cover is completely off the hook.

The cover I'm talking about is called "All For The Best," and it comes from Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy. As you might expect, this is a cover compilation of songs written by Mark Mulcahy. Mulcahy is a songwriter best known for his role as frontman of a band called Miracle Legion. More awesome is that Mulcahy played in the house band for The Adventures of Pete & Pete. Baller.

Sadly, Mulcahy's wife recently died. This compilation is a benefit for Mark, who now has the task of raising 3 year old twins on his own. Heartbreaking is the only word for it.

This song, given the context, is completely breathtaking. Everything Thom touches turns to gold, and this track is of a rare purity - emotional, simultaneously raw and polished. I can't stop listening to it. You're so beautiful it seems, on a lonely, lazy morning. And when I see you rocking back and forth - whispering that it's all for the best...

Thom Yorke - All For The Best (YSI) (filesavr)

Also, here is my favorite TY solo song - totally gorgeous. Plus a bonus Four Tet remix. So much awesome on a single cut!

Thom Yorke - Atoms for Peace (YSI) (filesavr)

Thom Yorke - Atoms for Peace (Four Tet Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Man, anytime Thom Yorke does something you can pretty much guarantee that it will be newsworthy. He's playing a live gig. He's doing a song for the Twilight movie. He's recording a cover for a cool compilation. Here's the thing though - it's newsworthy because it's probably really freaking good. That live show would have been amazing to see. The song for New Moon will probably be really dope. And this live cover is completely off the hook.<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362987962619319298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiex8bK5Mv6aCpQre3pxrK1F42BGgqdMKqVPGs_kzzgHRQVpTkvhtgReK2-PDzDrwceruNrj9RvvRHgTo6ByvaehAmou231yAKlhdYbb5CsUw3upmJK9ZTw1Mua9Uf9gafjmIBre3qa6oo/s320/thomTSRE.PNG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" /><div>The cover I'm talking about is called "All For The Best," and it comes from <i>Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy</i>. As you might expect, this is a cover compilation of songs written by Mark Mulcahy. Mulcahy is a songwriter best known for his role as frontman of a band called Miracle Legion. More awesome is that Mulcahy played in the house band for <i>The Adventures of Pete & Pete</i>. Baller. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sadly, Mulcahy's wife recently died. This compilation is a benefit for Mark, who now has the task of raising 3 year old twins on his own. Heartbreaking is the only word for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>This song, given the context, is completely breathtaking. Everything Thom touches turns to gold, and this track is of a rare purity - emotional, simultaneously raw and polished. I can't stop listening to it. You're so beautiful it seems, on a lonely, lazy morning. And when I see you rocking back and forth - whispering that it's all for the best...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Thom Yorke - All For The Best</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyZGVlZ2pubVVLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01allforthebest" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, here is my favorite TY solo song - totally gorgeous. Plus a bonus Four Tet remix. So much awesome on a single cut!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Thom Yorke - Atoms for Peace</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyZGVlZ2pENlJMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/06atomsforpeace" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Thom Yorke - Atoms for Peace (Four Tet Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyZGVRdWMzS3JIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/atomsforpeacefourtetremix" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div></div>

Monsters of Sunday

Its Sunday and I'm up in Maine again either reading a book by the ocean or cutting down some trees. Based on yesterday's post, you can bet I'm listening to a lot of Meursault this weekend. In addition to Meursault, a couple of other artists whom have perked up my ears recently are the massive collaboration of Monsters of Folk and Atlas Sound. I am not really going to get into the tracks too much, besides the observation that Walkabout is an absolute jam with unstoppable momentum. What a great song, oh yeah and Say Please is nothing to scoff at either. But seriously, Walkabout is so good.

Monsters of Folk - Say Please (YSI) (filesavr)
Atlas Sound - Walkabout (w/ Panda Bear) (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1QKjObnJ7zMG0p5JqKxv6jiOpAKqGTC3lzdsJNpPKWqyefpmXWTunfoQetdN2qOOmAydtqicrvhOUjz7_ifbAYkK5KVf53vokRfBY9KpMbalzAIPG5_GquiaFidY9CnkIWmLIR0YT_wJ/s1600-h/TSRE+Weiner+Dog.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361827716208409298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1QKjObnJ7zMG0p5JqKxv6jiOpAKqGTC3lzdsJNpPKWqyefpmXWTunfoQetdN2qOOmAydtqicrvhOUjz7_ifbAYkK5KVf53vokRfBY9KpMbalzAIPG5_GquiaFidY9CnkIWmLIR0YT_wJ/s320/TSRE+Weiner+Dog.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 249px;" /></a><span>Its Sunday and I'm up in Maine again either reading a book by the ocean or cutting down some trees. Based on yesterday's post, you can bet I'm listening to a lot of Meursault this weekend. In addition to<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Meursault, a couple of other artists whom have perked up my ears recently are the massive collaboration of Monsters of Folk and Atlas Sound. I am not really going to get into the tracks too much, besides the observation that Walkabout is an absolute jam with unstoppable momentum. What a great song, oh yeah and Say Please is nothing to scoff at either. But seriously, Walkabout is so good.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Monsters of Folk - Say Please</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyMWZObThQb0pMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02sayplease" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Atlas Sound - Walkabout (w/ Panda Bear)</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyMWZObTgwMEYzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03walkaboutwpandabear" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)

Meursault Returns... And There Was Much Rejoicing

A little surprise recently appeared in my inbox from Meursault in the form of a new entirely acoustic EP entitled Nothing Broke. In a departure from the electronic folk of his phenomenal debut Pissing on Bonefires/Kissing with Tongues, Meursault offers the listener his stripped down voice surrounded by delightfully ramshackle guitar. Ranging from sullen to soaring, Nothing Broke is a fun jaunt through the country with some real pop gems. I love it so please go buy it here.

Meursault - Nothing Brokehere. (YSI) (filesavr)
Meursault - William Henry Miller Pt. 1 (YSI) (filesavr)
In case you missed it from the LP:
Meursault - Salt Part 1 (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxTwZole5GpshOTlVCrAhrrSgGWkrZFtuB6ltHJXIY2yid5Z9ReaFpQ11NTqY-7Hbsd83GRI8L-QjqisjU5aC9rzxHPBPgYUkda2GeN0MGPCoeW5Jx1Rdx0D_IQF2CLTXk6QOb_YsAQj2/s1600-h/TSRE+Mormons.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361827051585412946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsxTwZole5GpshOTlVCrAhrrSgGWkrZFtuB6ltHJXIY2yid5Z9ReaFpQ11NTqY-7Hbsd83GRI8L-QjqisjU5aC9rzxHPBPgYUkda2GeN0MGPCoeW5Jx1Rdx0D_IQF2CLTXk6QOb_YsAQj2/s320/TSRE+Mormons.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 218px;" /></a><span>A little surprise recently appeared in my inbox</span><span> from Meursault in the form of a new entirely acoustic EP entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">Nothing Broke</span>. In a departure from the electronic folk of his phenomenal debut <span style="font-style: italic;">Pissing on Bonefires/Kissing with Tongues</span>, Meursault offers the listener his stripped down voice surrounded by delightfully ramshackle guitar. Ranging from sullen to soaring, <span style="font-style: italic;">Nothing Broke</span> is a fun jaunt through the country with some real pop gems. I love it so please go buy it <a href="http://songbytoadrecords.com/2009/04/meursault-nothing-broke/" target="blank">here</a>.</span><span style=""><br /><br />Meursault - Nothing Broke</span><a href="http://songbytoadrecords.com/2009/04/meursault-nothing-broke/" target="">here</a>.<span style=""> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyMWZBYTJJMHVGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01nothingbroke" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meursault - William Henry Miller Pt. 1</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RvblRrNkdYSHpIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04williamhenrymillerpt1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />In case you missed it from the LP:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meursault - Salt Part 1</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyMWZObThCSWRMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01saltpart1_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /></span>

Patriotic Paeans

I just this week finished watching the final episode of West Wing, Season 7, having crammed all seven seasons into the last month or two in what was a very lazy marathon. Great show. I’d never watched it before, as back in high school, when it was actually on TV, I was pretty disinterested in politics. But I’ve come around, and over the last month became relatively obsessed with the show. Anyways, don’t mean to talk too much about television, but the end of my episode-watching marathon has left me feeling patriotic. So this week, I’ll talk about a couple of my favorite patriotic tunes.

The first (and my favorite) comes from the Father of Soul himself, Mr. Ray Charles. His take on “America the Beautiful” is remarkable. Before discovering this version, I’d only previously heard the song sung by my elementary school chorus, and needless to say, the chorus’s version lacked any real sense of fervor or emotion. Maybe it was all the cracking voices. But then here comes Ray, taking the song at a leisurely pace, singing his heart out and imbuing the song with a real, soulful power. It’s a recording that’ll just make you feel good. So give it a listen.

Ray Charles – America the Beautiful (YSI) (filesavr)

The second comes from another fine vocalist, the King himself, Mr. Elvis Presley. It’s a live recording of a trio of traditional American tunes, aptly titled “American Trilogy.” The three songs included are “Dixie,” “All My Trials,” (a Bahamian lullaby that became associated with the folk music revival of the 60s) and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The highlight of the track comes at its close, as Elvis belts out the chorus of “The Battle Hymn” for the second time over a building brass accompaniment. The moment when he climbs up to the final note gives me the chills, though it’s admittedly more than a little cheesy. But hey, this is patriotism we’re talking about.

Elvis Presley – American Trilogy (YSI) (filesavr)

And finally, there’s Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock performance of the Star-Spangled Banner. It’s a provocative interpretation of the nation’s anthem, embodying the country’s chaos and violence as well as its beauty. Furthermore, it showcases Hendrix’s exploration of the range of timbres made possible through distortion and feedback. He was one hell of a guitar player, and used his technical abilities here to create an unforgettable artistic statement.

Jimi Hendrix – Star-Spangled Banner (Live at Woodstock) (YSI) (filesavr)

And there you have it, a patriotic musical fix. Fuck yea.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOkXZPrwbgnP60X0Zsr42H_lML45dRjxEg22kwBsvK4aiBJ0NKx8hU-TjtG77ABc3cH-OuG7kBsOv9woKxim-VT9-Eu1wdqiA38adqgY-L9-FU1yOMk2X48ekSNfiSpMj8hgaAT3R5ns/s1600-h/TheWestWing.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361787461665672226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOkXZPrwbgnP60X0Zsr42H_lML45dRjxEg22kwBsvK4aiBJ0NKx8hU-TjtG77ABc3cH-OuG7kBsOv9woKxim-VT9-Eu1wdqiA38adqgY-L9-FU1yOMk2X48ekSNfiSpMj8hgaAT3R5ns/s320/TheWestWing.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 256px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">I just this week finished watching the final episode of West Wing, Season 7, having crammed all seven seasons into the last month or two in what was a very lazy marathon. Great show. I’d never watched it before, as back in high school, when it was actually on TV, I was pretty disinterested in politics. But I’ve come around, and over the last month became relatively obsessed with the show. Anyways, don’t mean to talk too much about television, but the end of my episode-watching marathon has left me feeling patriotic. So this week, I’ll talk about a couple of my favorite patriotic tunes.<br /><br />The first (and my favorite) comes from the Father of Soul himself, Mr. Ray Charles. His take on “America the Beautiful” is remarkable. Before discovering this version, I’d only previously heard the song sung by my elementary school chorus, and needless to say, the chorus’s version lacked any real sense of fervor or emotion. Maybe it was all the cracking voices. But then here comes Ray, taking the song at a leisurely pace, singing his heart out and imbuing the song with a real, soulful power. It’s a recording that’ll just make you feel good. So give it a listen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ray Charles – America the Beautiful</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RwcHBCbEFiV3hMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/20americathebeautiful" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><br />The second comes from another fine vocalist, the King himself, Mr. Elvis Presley. It’s a live recording of a trio of traditional American tunes, aptly titled “American Trilogy.” The three songs included are “Dixie,” “All My Trials,” (a Bahamian lullaby that became associated with the folk music revival of the 60s) and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” The highlight of the track comes at its close, as Elvis belts out the chorus of “The Battle Hymn” for the second time over a building brass accompaniment. The moment when he climbs up to the final note gives me the chills, though it’s admittedly more than a little cheesy. But hey, this is patriotism we’re talking about.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Elvis Presley – American Trilogy</span> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RwcHBJQTY0b0FLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/17americantrilogy" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><br />And finally, there’s Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock performance of the Star-Spangled Banner. It’s a provocative interpretation of the nation’s anthem, embodying the country’s chaos and violence as well as its beauty. Furthermore, it showcases Hendrix’s exploration of the range of timbres made possible through distortion and feedback. He was one hell of a guitar player, and used his technical abilities here to create an unforgettable artistic statement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jimi Hendrix – Star-Spangled Banner (Live at Woodstock)</span> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RwcHBNNnk0b0NGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/4-10starspangledbanner" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><br />And there you have it, a patriotic musical fix. Fuck yea.<br /><br /></span>

Mercury Prize Shortlist Announced! Baller Covers and Remixes From Some Nominees

The Contenders for the Mercury Prize were announced on Tuesday - this year's list is super interesting. More female heavy and under the radar than previous years. Definitely got me to re-examine my recent listening habits, and my favorites of the past year.

For those of you who might not know what the Mercury Prize is, it's an annual award given to the best album from the UK or Ireland. Past years' winners have included Franz Ferdinand, Dizzee Rascal, Antony and the Johnson, Klaxons, and The Arctic Monkeys. Here's a list of this years' nominees:

Florence and the Machine – Lungs

Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Bat for Lashes – Two Suns

La Roux – La Roux

Glasvegas – Glasvegas

Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy

Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires

The Horrors – Primary Colours

Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew

The Invisible – The Invisible

Led Bib – Sensible Shoes

Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men

Anywho, I thought it would be cool to share some tracks from a few of my favorite artists on the list. But since I'm sure every other blog in the world is doing the same, I thought I'd branch out from tracks that are on those actual albums. So here are cuts from La Roux (a remix), Friendly Fires (a Lykke Li cover), and Florence and the Machine (a Beirut cover). Enjoy! And may the best Brit win!

La Roux - Bulletproof (iamxl Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Friendly Fires - I'm Good I'm Gone (Lykke Li Cover) (YSI) (filesavr)

Florence and the Machine - Postcards From Italy (Beirut Cover) (YSI) (filesavr)

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Contenders for the Mercury Prize were announced on Tuesday - this year's list is super interesting. More female heavy and under the radar than previous years. Definitely got me to re-examine my recent listening habits, and my favorites of the past year.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361494845415562834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHquh_JoEhNLZMrOKLXGExdYLXtujcxJzf1LIISGFP6gPSAbAcPxzYvqxvS2Sx2zPPStbHQXyyKi8c4NAPXxIuU97K-Bh9QsfkoqjzJ7IeMneCqgKqByion6jmymqdBAPcrKY3iaquBi0/s320/la-rouxTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For those of you who might not know what the Mercury Prize is, it's an annual award given to the best album from the UK or Ireland. Past years' winners have included Franz Ferdinand, Dizzee Rascal, Antony and the Johnson, Klaxons, and The Arctic Monkeys. Here's a list of this years' nominees:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; font-family:arial;font-size:14px;"><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Florence and the Machine – Lungs</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bat for Lashes – Two Suns</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">La Roux – La Roux</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Glasvegas – Glasvegas</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Speech Debelle – Speech Therapy</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Horrors – Primary Colours</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lisa Hannigan – Sea Sew</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Invisible – The Invisible</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Led Bib – Sensible Shoes</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Twice Born Men</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Anywho, I thought it would be cool to share some tracks from a few of my favorite artists on the list. But since I'm sure every other blog in the world is doing the same, I thought I'd branch out from tracks that are on those actual albums. So here are cuts from La Roux (a remix), Friendly Fires (a Lykke Li cover), and Florence and the Machine (a Beirut cover). Enjoy! And may the best Brit win!</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">La Roux - Bulletproof (iamxl Remix)</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (</span><a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyRkJXSyswMEdGa1E9PQ" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">YSI</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) (</span><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/bulletproofiamxlremix" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">filesavr</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">)</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Friendly Fires - I'm Good I'm Gone (Lykke Li Cover)</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyRkJTd0lEa1VLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/imgoodimgonelykkelicover" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</span></span></p><p style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; background-repeat: no-repeat; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Florence and the Machine - Postcards From Italy (Beirut Cover)</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> (</span><a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyRkJTd0liV3pIRGc9PQ" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">YSI</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">) (</span><a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01postcardsfromitalybeirutcove" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">filesavr</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">)</span></span></p></span></div>

Stu Reid Under The Covers: Female Voices Take On Sam Cooke's "Cupid"

I wrote a couple days ago about Melanie Fiona - I think she's one of my favorite up and coming singers, and I'm excited to hear lots of good stuff coming out of her camp. One of my favorite tracks on her recent collaboration with ?uestlove and the Illadelphonics is her cover of Sam Cooke's "Cupid," so I thought it would be a good time for a Stu Reid Under The Covers.

"Cupid" is a fantastic song that has been covered by a myriad of artists over the last 50 years - notably Johnny Nash, Graham Parker, Colin Meloy, and Otis Redding. The versions I want to share today, though, come from female singers - Fiona and Amy Winehouse, along with a great live version of the original.

Winehouse's version is from a Radio One compilation that dropped in 2007 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Radio One, and it's definitely one of the standout tracks on that already good compilation. Winehouse's voice does the song justice, and the horns in the background are great.

Amy Winehouse - Cupid (Sam Cooke Cover) (YSI) (filesavr)

Fiona's is a sparser arrangement, which works really well - the track features a solo lightly picked guitar backing her smooth pipes, centering the song on the vocals where the focus belongs. The more I listen to this version, the more I like it.

Melanie Fiona - Cupid (Sam Cooke Cover) (YSI) (filesavr)

Nobody can do it quite like Cooke did it, though, and this live version from his 1963 show Live at the Harlem Square Club proves that unquestionably. The album that this track comes from is one of the most highly regarded soul albums around (read some more about it here) and you can clearly see why. God I love this track.

Sam Cooke - Cupid (YSI) (filesavr)

Enjoy!

I wrote a couple days ago about Melanie Fiona - I think she's one of my favorite up and coming singers, and I'm excited to hear lots of good stuff coming out of her camp. One of my favorite tracks on her recent collaboration with ?uestlove and the Illadelphonics is her cover of Sam Cooke's "Cupid," so I thought it would be a good time for a Stu Reid Under The Covers.<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361296460157227058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8P5QWeWj24NW6fcREWfbbEL_p_ldAGWK6udPPjMrJ9m0MWIGN6mZCWVtnGJ_jxvcqqQjpqdIHyexKbYVmP2Iy-EeSAO5oNmPzjIMjjsvkZffsqlFoIa_JhB-9GBjHWhDL5jHux0Ck1k0/s320/TSREundercovers.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" /><div>"Cupid" is a fantastic song that has been covered by a myriad of artists over the last 50 years - notably Johnny Nash, Graham Parker, Colin Meloy, and Otis Redding. The versions I want to share today, though, come from female singers - Fiona and Amy Winehouse, along with a great live version of the original.</div><div><br /></div><div>Winehouse's version is from a Radio One compilation that dropped in 2007 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Radio One, and it's definitely one of the standout tracks on that already good compilation. Winehouse's voice does the song justice, and the horns in the background are great.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Amy Winehouse - Cupid (Sam Cooke Cover)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1Rvek9nTXY4NVYzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03cupidsamcookecover" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Fiona's is a sparser arrangement, which works really well - the track features a solo lightly picked guitar backing her smooth pipes, centering the song on the vocals where the focus belongs. The more I listen to this version, the more I like it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Melanie Fiona - Cupid (Sam Cooke Cover)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1Rvek9xV3JUMFBIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/11cupidsamcookecover" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Nobody can do it quite like Cooke did it, though, and this live version from his 1963 show <i>Live at the Harlem Square Club</i> proves that unquestionably. The album that this track comes from is one of the most highly regarded soul albums around (read some more about it <a href="http://www.thestureidexperiment.com/2009/06/soul-music.html" target="_blank">here</a>) and you can clearly see why. God I love this track.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Sam Cooke - Cupid</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1Rvek9nTXZtMEpMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/4-15cupid" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Enjoy!</div>

Party Songs and Coincidences

While at an ultimate frisbee tournament this weekend in Philly I heard the track Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell for the first time. It has apparently been circulating for most of 2009, but it is new for me and despite its comically inane lyrics, it is a keeper. I am not completely a fan of the original, but this remix by Wallpaper is a pretty sick party track. Regardless of its very limited lyrics, with synths sounding like a broke man's LCD Soundsystem (horns too!) and some pretty hilarious accents, Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell is catchy as hell. With further reading I discovered that Das Racist, the rap duo behind the song, includes one member of band Boy Crisis. Both Boy Crisis and Das Racist formed at Wesleyan University in CT, which has also recently spawned MGMT. While I am not especially fond of Boy Crisis, who seem a bit derivative of MGMT especially considering they went to the same school, they are a pretty fun band to listen to especially if you like hipster synth music. Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell makes perfect sense now as facetious hip hop for Hipsters by Hipsters. No matter what though this track is incredibly catchy and will be in your party playlists soon enough.


Das Racist - Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (Wallpaper remix) (YSI) (filesavr)
Boy Crisis - Dressed to Digress (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU0WjWIZ3VVFXLrblKsb93Ki6sMZa6dJN6h5KtktFruLzJ1vNw0TXnQKf1q2vEA5b1_-_Iq2EQnVGHrYCXyr90umcDOUG7tXjtZDxtFZPFpnuxOhdeYBp0lSt_Ik_w1344i0ldVF-m3uw/s1600-h/TSRE+Taco+Bell.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360688524238250690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjU0WjWIZ3VVFXLrblKsb93Ki6sMZa6dJN6h5KtktFruLzJ1vNw0TXnQKf1q2vEA5b1_-_Iq2EQnVGHrYCXyr90umcDOUG7tXjtZDxtFZPFpnuxOhdeYBp0lSt_Ik_w1344i0ldVF-m3uw/s320/TSRE+Taco+Bell.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 320px;" /></a>While at an ultimate frisbee tournament this weekend in Philly I heard the track Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell for the first time. It has apparently been circulating for most of 2009, but it is new for me and despite its comically inane lyrics, it is a keeper. I am not completely a fan of the original, but this remix by Wallpaper is a pretty sick party track. Regardless of its very limited lyrics, with synths sounding like a broke man's LCD Soundsystem (horns too!) and some pretty hilarious accents, Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell is catchy as hell. With further reading I discovered that Das Racist, the rap duo behind the song, includes one member of band Boy Crisis. Both Boy Crisis and Das Racist formed at Wesleyan University in CT, which has also recently spawned MGMT. While I am not especially fond of Boy Crisis, who seem a bit derivative of MGMT especially considering they went to the same school, they are a pretty fun band to listen to especially if you like hipster synth music. Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell makes perfect sense now as facetious hip hop for Hipsters by Hipsters. No matter what though this track is incredibly catchy and will be in your party playlists soon enough.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Das Racist - Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (Wallpaper remix)</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyS3doZEs1bmdLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/combinationpizzahutandtacobellwallpaperrmx" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Boy Crisis - Dressed to Digress</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyS3ducVhwTVZMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01dressedtodigress" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)

Melanie Fiona Gets Some Help from Questlove and the Illadelphonics

A little while back we posted some Melanie Fiona up here, and I'm happy to say that she's back with new stuff. Fiona has some soulful power in her voice - she really is more than just a singer, she's a musician. Her new album, The Bridge, is scheduled for release on July 28th abroad, but it won't hit stateside until September (for some really dumb marketing reason, I would guess). Luckily, Fiona isn't making us wait all the way until September to hear some cuts from the new record. Recently, she teamed up with The Roots' drummer ?uestlove for some live interpretations of her new songs.

The free album, called Melanie Fiona Meets the Illadelphonics, is the product of a live studio session between Fiona and some of The Roots. They play some Fiona originals, a couple ballin' covers, and then ?uestlove interviews her between tracks. Pretty cool. Here are two of the originals, which sound completely dope - "Ay Yo" from The Bridge, and a live take of "Give It To Me Right," a song that we have talked about before on TSRE. Also, I'm tossing up a track called "Magic" that I heard originally at Pigeons and Planes - it's a more R&B side of Melanie Fiona, and a bit of a guilty pleasure, but it's pretty awesome.

?uestlove + Anyone = Good Enough For Me.

Melanie Fiona and ?uestlove - Ay Yo (Illadelphonics Live Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Melanie Fiona and ?uestlove - Give It To Me Right (Illadelphonics Live Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Melanie Fiona - Magic (YSI) (filesavr)

Also, check out this totally dope video of Melanie Fiona with Human Orchestra performing "Give It To Me Right" live in a hallway somewhere.

Yes. DOPE.

A little while back we posted some Melanie Fiona up <a href="http://www.thestureidexperiment.com/search?q=melanie+fiona" target="_blank">here</a>, and I'm happy to say that she's back with new stuff. Fiona has some soulful power in her voice - she really is more than just a singer, she's a musician. Her new album, <i>The Bridge</i>, is scheduled for release on July 28th abroad, but it won't hit stateside until September (for some really dumb marketing reason, I would guess). Luckily, Fiona isn't making us wait all the way until September to hear some cuts from the new record. Recently, she teamed up with The Roots' drummer ?uestlove for some live interpretations of her new songs.<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360222360406917346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ns8Aff1k_dI6gScbQpSi34BV23Tci_Oj06TCe5BQRu-h4VZr4L-FajsuV9B7xf0p1zwfW7HxV4N7C2pew6-xPBTHSq-Bk-7Xr2X6A8WyJZBXxi59kfLnqiv9m3mYaS5o2ENJ9SuOEfU/s320/melanie+fiona+and+questTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" /><div>The free album, called <i>Melanie Fiona Meets the Illadelphonics</i>, is the product of a live studio session between Fiona and some of The Roots. They play some Fiona originals, a couple ballin' covers, and then ?uestlove interviews her between tracks. Pretty cool. Here are two of the originals, which sound completely dope - "Ay Yo" from <i>The Bridge</i>, and a live take of "Give It To Me Right," a song that we have talked about before on TSRE. Also, I'm tossing up a track called "Magic" that I heard originally at <a href="http://www.pigeonsandplanes.com/" target="_blank">Pigeons and Planes</a> - it's a more R&B side of Melanie Fiona, and a bit of a guilty pleasure, but it's pretty awesome.</div><div><br /></div><div>?uestlove + Anyone = Good Enough For Me.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Melanie Fiona and ?uestlove - Ay Yo (Illadelphonics Live Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyRFFhUENtNEozZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03ayyoilladelphonicsliveremix_2" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Melanie Fiona and ?uestlove</b><b> - Give It To Me Right (Illadelphonics Live Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyRFFhUENCSWVGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01giveittomerightilladelphoni" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Melanie Fiona - Magic</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyRFFhUENiV3lGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/magic_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, check out this totally dope video of Melanie Fiona with Human Orchestra performing "Give It To Me Right" live in a hallway somewhere.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><object height="360" width="425"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=56655117,t=1,mt=video"><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=56655117,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></object><br /><div><br /></div><div>Yes. DOPE.</div>

Micachu & The Shapes 7/16/09 @ Great Scott

Wow, our luck with great opening bands and headliners has continued and how. Micachu & The Shapes are composed of three precocious young musicians from Britain, but in all honesty, do not dismiss this band because of their youthful appearance. Coming on stage in baggy, but awesome gig shirts, Micachu & the Shapes looked like a rag tag band of rebellious younger siblings who have stolen their older brothers' shirts to go on an adventure. Appearances aside, they brought a level of energy and craftsmanship that belies their age.

The set was dominated by quick songs, heavy rhythmic guitar work on the world's smallest but loudest guitar and endless cascades of percussion. Heavy dissonance frequently resolved to precise harmony, while Micachu kept the songs moving with quick lyrics and an endearing sneer. Already knowing and loving Micachu, I readily succumbed to their pulsating rhythms and got into their groove. With such intricate rhythms and a horde of homemade percussive instruments, like wine bottles, bells and cans, Micachu & the Shapes were far more funky than I expected. It was a great live touch, along with their ability to alter tempos and even the key of some of their songs. During the roughly 45 minutes of jamming out, Micachu and her band mates always kept eye contact, playing off of each other's cues and really creating an organic, free flowing concert experience. I came in with pretty high expectations to experience something new and exciting. I defintely received just that (dare I say avant garde?) from both Anni Rossi and Micachu.

The set list is below which includes most of their debut album Jewelery and a few more obscure and new songs! (in bold):

Vulture
Eat Your Heart
Waste
Floor
Lips
Wrong
Just in Case
Guts
Long Time
Debris
Curly Teeth
Golden Phone
----
Hardcore

Micachu & the Shapes - Lips (YSI) (filesavr)

Micachu & the Shapes - Eat your Heart (YSI) (filsavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuE2RQ7AcBkYzQO1xrw_qd_hk6winx59KxgB00dFAFeV-iwrpElLttPCWBxMVbPNwm8vzH0pWSB2mBrG6RA-mezvbeG1w7_ypF8wEGcLuA2qyEdCE579sBInHHnnT6p26qeMF9YRHEh30/s1600-h/DSC_0130.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359519385693536530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvuE2RQ7AcBkYzQO1xrw_qd_hk6winx59KxgB00dFAFeV-iwrpElLttPCWBxMVbPNwm8vzH0pWSB2mBrG6RA-mezvbeG1w7_ypF8wEGcLuA2qyEdCE579sBInHHnnT6p26qeMF9YRHEh30/s320/DSC_0130.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" /></a>Wow, our luck with great opening bands and headliners has continued and how. Micachu & The Shapes are composed of three precocious young musicians from Britain, but in all honesty, do not dismiss this band because of their youthful appearance. Coming on stage in baggy, but awesome gig shirts, Micachu & the Shapes looked like a rag tag band of rebellious younger siblings who have stolen their older brothers' shirts to go on an adventure. Appearances aside, they brought a level of energy and craftsmanship that belies their age.<div><br /></div><div>The set was dominated by quick songs, heavy rhythmic guitar work on the world's smallest but loudest guitar and endless cascades of percussion. Heavy dissonance frequently resolved to precise harmony, while Micachu kept the songs moving with quick lyrics and an endearing sneer. Already knowing and loving Micachu, I readily succumbed to their pulsating rhythms and got into their groove. With such intricate rhythms and a horde of homemade percussive instruments, like wine bottles, bells and cans, Micachu & the Shapes were far more funky than I expected. It was a great live touch, along with their ability to alter tempos and even the key of some of their songs. During the roughly 45 minutes of jamming out, Micachu and her band mates always kept eye contact, playing off of each other's cues and really creating an organic, free flowing concert experience. I came in with pretty high expectations to experience something new and exciting. I defintely received just that (dare I say avant garde?) from both Anni Rossi and Micachu.</div><div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359524781460136466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKiDDCVmfO1XTqN9Ls-mKQPVfTTz9QyTnQ_3rEjeTlATXjrmNzJYTW5UBOINBI7ZM2cCCBkBLDuPtImFcXRznKAz8SyjFQbDZ0C6fhxSF_pp0-pvx5_D-LHJYU0yO0WtP4SPFN54hopGO/s320/DSC_0093.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" />The set list is below which includes most of their debut album <i>Jewelery </i>and a few more obscure and new songs! (in bold):<br /><br />Vulture<br /><span>Eat Your Heart</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Waste</span><br />Floor<br />Lips<br />Wrong<br />Just in Case<br />Guts<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Long Time</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Debris</span><br />Curly Teeth<br />Golden Phone<br />----<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hardcore</span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Micachu & the Shapes - Lips </b>(<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyeW4xSWhxRTEzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02-lipsfeattheshapes" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><b>Micachu & the Shapes - Eat your Heart </b>(<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyeW4xSWhqV0FLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04eatyourheart" target="_blank">filsavr</a>)</div>

TGI The Weekend - Remixes for Your Saturday

Ah! Today has been a crazy day - woke up at 7:15, did some things, and went back to bed for an hour. Then I overslept by 4 hours (4 hours!) before finally waking up at 1:45. Man, what is my life coming to? On the plus side, it's a Saturday. So it doesn't matter. I love weekends.

Nothing too revolutionary comes to mind today, and my brain's still too sleepy to write anything of much substance, so enjoy a couple good remixes that have come my way lately. A remix by L-Vis (get it?) of Lemonade, who is pretty sweet, and an incestual but great Neon Gold remix by Yes Giantess (the artist formerly known as Giantess).

And I'm re-posting the Black Dominoes Passion Pit remix, because I don't think it got enough love last time. Eat it up.

Lemonade - Big Weekend (L-Vis Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Wolf Gang - Pieces of You (Yes Giantess Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Passion Pit - The Reeling (Black Dominoes Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Ah! Today has been a crazy day - woke up at 7:15, did some things, and went back to bed for an hour. Then I overslept by 4 hours (4 hours!) before finally waking up at 1:45. Man, what is my life coming to? On the plus side, it's a Saturday. So it doesn't matter. I love weekends.<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359886273838893154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZowKC_6iSG7H0F6B8k7B9SRUFgDmx1pCQ649aKX8fy5xZU3rHU7yBiLr-DUFtLKmkWE94LDDRoCS7Ac1XJngfAQAl4YQehcljN1QGjYLm9Jjf2vdznpk5aSqLI8rROIfG98SuvPcuSk/s320/remixTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" /><div>Nothing too revolutionary comes to mind today, and my brain's still too sleepy to write anything of much substance, so enjoy a couple good remixes that have come my way lately. A remix by L-Vis (get it?) of Lemonade, who is pretty sweet, and an incestual but great Neon Gold remix by Yes Giantess (the artist formerly known as Giantess). </div><div><br /></div><div>And I'm re-posting the Black Dominoes Passion Pit remix, because I don't think it got enough love last time. Eat it up.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Lemonade - Big Weekend (L-Vis Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RxL0dBMm1KV1BIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03bigweekendl-vis1990remix" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wolf Gang - Pieces of You (Yes Giantess Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RxL0dBMm05NVdGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/piecesofyouyesgiantessremix" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Passion Pit - The Reeling (Black Dominoes Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RxL0dBMm04Q1IzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/thereelingblackdominoesremix2" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div>

Stu Reid Under The Covers: The Five One Cover Project

There are lots of different "We're going to release (one/two/ten) free (tracks/covers/Remixes/EPs) every (day/week/month) for the rest of this (week/month/year)" announcements. Some of them - like Bishop Allen's EP Project - are really cool. Others, however, fall very very flat. It's like saying "Instead of spending time on quality music, we're going to put out loads of half-finished stuff. But it's free so you can't complain!"

So needless to say I was dubious when I heard about The Five One, a quartet of dudes from DMV who are putting out a cover every week this year over at Deuce Day World. BUT! As you may have ascertained from the fact that I am writing about them, they are actually really freakin' good.

The guys have a great combination of covering/sampling/remixing wherein they take an original track, play the original melodies and rhythms, add their own embellishments, and change most of the lyrics. It's a cool blend of a lot of appropriation styles, and it makes for a very entertaining listen. On "A Hard Dopalicious Night", for example, they take an original Outkast tune, change it up a bit, and sing some of their own lyrics along with Kid Cudi's "Day N' Nite" over the top. Baller. Over the course of around 25 weeks, they've covered everything from Death Cab and Vampire Weekend to N.E.R.D. and Jay-Z.

I've been listening to their covers for a few days, and I'm really diggin' them. I especially can't get enough of this Sam Sparro do-over. So dope it's disgusting.

The Five One - So Dope It's Disgusting (Sam Sparro) (YSI) (filesavr)

The Five One - A Hard Dopalicious Night (Outkast) (YSI) (filesavr)

The Five One - Fighters (Lupe Fiasco) (YSI) (filesavr)

There are lots of different "We're going to release (one/two/ten) free (tracks/covers/Remixes/EPs) every (day/week/month) for the rest of this (week/month/year)" announcements. Some of them - like Bishop Allen's EP Project - are really cool. Others, however, fall very very flat. It's like saying "Instead of spending time on <i>quality</i> music, we're going to put out loads of half-finished stuff. But it's free so you can't complain!"<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358890522995717634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRS1_sAoIvbJoUYjDBx0_wAvnbr-S5b1hdS-Ddjdc-8ZTgO5vIDCXn1UaoHXhH2AlHDlewrIrgyB8FaU5f8Dc8T34U7YJ5j0Axc7ZvniQMgA8BgGDDOres-jnUu0XsGoBWJ8bnk6tUVc/s320/the+five+one+backsTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" /><div>So needless to say I was dubious when I heard about The Five One, a quartet of dudes from DMV who are putting out a cover every week this year over at <a href="http://www.deucedayworld.com/">Deuce Day World</a>. BUT! As you may have ascertained from the fact that I am writing about them, they are actually really freakin' good. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The guys have a great combination of covering/sampling/remixing wherein they take an original track, play the original melodies and rhythms, add their own embellishments, and change most of the lyrics. It's a cool blend of a lot of appropriation styles, and it makes for a very entertaining listen. On "A Hard Dopalicious Night", for example, they take an original Outkast tune, change it up a bit, and sing some of their own lyrics along with Kid Cudi's "Day N' Nite" over the top. Baller. Over the course of around 25 weeks, they've covered everything from Death Cab and Vampire Weekend to N.E.R.D. and Jay-Z.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been listening to their covers for a few days, and I'm really diggin' them. I especially can't get enough of this Sam Sparro do-over. So dope it's disgusting.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Five One - So Dope It's Disgusting (Sam Sparro)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RxQ3Q2Zy9VVG1Ga1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05sodopeitsdisgustingsamspar_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Five One - A Hard Dopalicious Night (Outkast)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RxQ3Q2Zy9GR0YzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/06aharddopalicousnightoutkast" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Five One - Fighters (Lupe Fiasco) </b>(<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RxQ3Q2Zy9tUUVLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/14fighterslupefiasco" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div>

Falling Over For The Black Dominoes

In my mind there are only a few artists that can hold their own solely on remixes. They make their name in the remix game, do what they do really well, and only remix tunes that will sound good under the knife. Black Dominoes is one such artist. He's selective about where he practices his craft, putting out only a sprinkling of reworks since he first go into the remix game, but when he does flex his steez, he does it with authority.

I first heard Black Dominoes through his great remix of Vampire Weekend's "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" which floated around the internet last year. It blew up quickly, adding some kick, some kids, and some extra bump to an already swingin' song. How many other debut remixes have been played on Radio 1 and NPR? I would venture very few.

Since then, Black Dominoes has put together a money retake of Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal", and an interesting (although slightly less inspired) remix of Yeasayer's "2080". His latest effort comes via a Lollapalooza remix competition, and it's a doozy.

It's a spread out house-y reworking of Passion Pit's "The Reeling", the first single off of their excellent debut LP Manners. Splicing the original with some vaguely ethnic grooves, he manages to turn a short, punchy song into something with some development involved. I love the original, but this remix bring the flavor of its source to a more relaxed environment. Like any remix worth its salt, it transforms the original into a completely different beast.

I'm psyched to hear more from Black Dominoes, and I hope he keeps crankin' out the good stuff. Show him some love over at the contest, and help him win free Lollapalooza tix, a computer, and shwag. Do it for the children.

Passion Pit - The Reeling (Black Dominoes Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Black Dominoes Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Passion Pit - The Reeling (YSI) (filesavr)

In my mind there are only a few artists that can hold their own solely on remixes. They make their name in the remix game, do what they do really well, and only remix tunes that will sound good under the knife. Black Dominoes is one such artist. He's selective about where he practices his craft, putting out only a sprinkling of reworks since he first go into the remix game, but when he does flex his steez, he does it with authority.<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358882572637793778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKaBjz41_Jn4-u7JrlSU31LzmJo84ECRZOkAtGKYIi7gmYilb0QGgYl-5dg0EsA6a5dOpK0jlQnNERMu8bay4jFaXHpC0iL47tp5BwkZDFLL9VnAlkUGorwZ3zaiu3Bdoh5Wda41QSMQ/s320/blackdominoesTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" /><div>I first heard Black Dominoes through his great remix of Vampire Weekend's "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" which floated around the internet last year. It blew up quickly, adding some kick, some kids, and some extra bump to an already swingin' song. How many other debut remixes have been played on Radio 1 and NPR? I would venture very few. </div><div><br /></div><div>Since then, Black Dominoes has put together a money retake of Fleet Foxes' "White Winter Hymnal", and an interesting (although slightly less inspired) remix of Yeasayer's "2080". His latest effort comes via a Lollapalooza remix competition, and it's a doozy.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a spread out house-y reworking of Passion Pit's "The Reeling", the first single off of their excellent debut LP <i>Manners</i>. Splicing the original with some vaguely ethnic grooves, he manages to turn a short, punchy song into something with some development involved. I love the original, but this remix bring the flavor of its source to a more relaxed environment. Like any remix worth its salt, it transforms the original into a completely different beast.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm psyched to hear more from Black Dominoes, and I hope he keeps crankin' out the good stuff. Show him some love over at <a href="http://delllounge.com/lollapalooza/?gotopage=/backstage/artist.php&artist_id=50050" target="_blank">the contest</a>, and help him win free Lollapalooza tix, a computer, and shwag. Do it for the children.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Passion Pit - The Reeling (Black Dominoes Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyaXREQ0NIcWZIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/thereelingblackdominoesremix" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Black Dominoes Remix)</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyaXRJYXl3TGpIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/capecodkwassakwassablackdomino" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Passion Pit - The Reeling</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyaXRJYXlFd2RMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04thereeling_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div>

In Memoriam - WBCN

“CBS RADIO TO LAUNCH BOSTON’S NEWEST AND ONLY FM SPORTS STATION, 98.5 THE SPORTS HUB, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

Sports Station To Be Available At 98.5 On The FM Dial
Local Favorite, MIX, Home To Today’s Best Variety, Relocates To 104.1 FM

WBCN To Live On At www.wbcn.com And 98.5 HD 2”

- Excerpt from CBS Radio Boston Press Release, July 14, 2009


My cousin introduced me to WBCN when I was in 4th grade, and he was 22 or 23 and living in the basement of my family’s house. At the time, I didn’t know much music—I knew that I liked the Beatles, and that I generally enjoyed the Top 40 programming that was on the radio during the carpool rides to school and back. But as a dorky, insecure kid at that age where kids start separating into the cool and not cool crowds, I was looking for a way in, some area of conversation and knowledge through which I might be able to achieve a measure of social legitimacy.

Music seemed the perfect solution. I already knew that I liked music, and my cousin, an avid music listener, lived right downstairs. Fortunately, he was more than happy to introduce me to the music that he enjoyed, and I was more than happy to adopt his musical tastes as my own. One of the first pieces of advice he gave me was to drop the Top 40 radio in favor of WBCN, a local alternative station which, at the time, was unknown to me. I eagerly followed his advice, and consequently became exposed to some of the bands that would dominate my listening for the next five years—Nirvana, Weezer, Oasis, The Beastie Boys. I began collecting CDs, my first purchase being Oasis’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? I attended my first rock concert, a free Harvey Danger (remember “Flagpole Sitta”) show sponsored by WBCN. I was introduced to a great deal of music, and, for the first time, was passionate about a lot of it.

My relationship with WBCN ended in the late 90s as it moved towards the heavy rock of bands like Korn, Godsmack, and Nickelback. I’ve never really listened to it since, but yesterday’s announcement still saddened me. While ‘BCN will be remembered for many remarkable achievements—for helping to break U2, Elvis Costello, The Cars, The Ramones, and the Clash, among others—I'll remember it (as I'm sure many other Bostonians will) as the soundtrack to a certain formative stage of my life.

Here are a couple of tracks I associate with WBCN: a song from the first album I ever bought, a song from the first concert I ever attended, and the first rock song that WBCN ever played, in the late hours of March 15, 1968: Cream’s “I Feel Free.”

Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger (YSI) (filesavr)
Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta (YSI) (filesavr)
Cream - I Feel Free (YSI) (filesavr)

<span style="font-size:85%;">“CBS RADIO TO LAUNCH BOSTON’S NEWEST AND ONLY FM SPORTS STATION, 98.5 THE SPORTS HUB, ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 13<br /><br />Sports Station To Be Available At 98.5 On The FM Dial<br />Local Favorite, MIX, Home To Today’s Best Variety, Relocates To 104.1 FM<br /><br />WBCN To Live On At www.wbcn.com And 98.5 HD 2”<br /><br />- Excerpt from <a href="http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/dontquoteme/archive/2009/07/14/cbs-s-wbcn-press-release.aspx" target="_blank">CBS Radio Boston Press Release, July 14, 2009</a><br /><br /><br />My cousin introduced me to WBCN when I was in 4th grade, and he was 22 or 23 and living in the basement of my family’s house. At the time, I didn’t know much music—I knew that I liked the Beatles, and that I generally enjoyed the Top 40 programming that was on the radio during the carpool rides to school and back. But as a dorky, insecure kid at that age where kids start separating into the cool and not cool crowds, I was looking for a way in, some area of conversation and knowledge through which I might be able to achieve a measure of social legitimacy.<br /><br />Music seemed the perfect solution. I already knew that I liked music, and my cousin, an avid music listener, lived right downstairs. Fortunately, he was more than happy to introduce me to the music that he enjoyed, and I was more than happy to adopt his musical tastes as my own. One of the first pieces of advice he gave me was to drop the Top 40 radio in favor of WBCN, a local alternative station which, at the time, was unknown to me. I eagerly followed his advice, and consequently became exposed to some of the bands that would dominate my listening for the next five years—Nirvana, Weezer, Oasis, The Beastie Boys. I began collecting CDs, my first purchase being Oasis’s (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? I attended my first rock concert, a free Harvey Danger (remember “Flagpole Sitta”) show sponsored by WBCN. I was introduced to a great deal of music, and, for the first time, was passionate about a lot of it.<br /><br />My relationship with WBCN ended in the late 90s as it moved towards the heavy rock of bands like Korn, Godsmack, and Nickelback. I’ve never really listened to it since, but yesterday’s announcement still saddened me. While ‘BCN will be remembered for many remarkable achievements—for helping to break U2, Elvis Costello, The Cars, The Ramones, and the Clash, among others—I'll remember it (as I'm sure many other Bostonians will) as the soundtrack to a certain formative stage of my life.<br /><br />Here are a couple of tracks I associate with WBCN: a song from the first album I ever bought, a song from the first concert I ever attended, and the first rock song that WBCN ever played, in the late hours of March 15, 1968: Cream’s “I Feel Free.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyTkF1Z2pvQUpMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04dontlookbackinanger" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta </span>(<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyTkF0dEMrV3pIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/239flagpolesitta" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cream - I Feel Free</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/Y1RyTkFndWNEbUpMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/03ifeelfree1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br /><br /></span>

Oakenfold's New Album

I remember first hearing Paul Oakenfold when my sister got back from a semester in London about 8 years ago. It was around the same time that I heard about "Daft Punk" and "Dance Music". I caught a DMB remix he did a few years later, but hadn't heard much in a while.

But there's some cool stuff coming out of Oakenfold's camp recently - his album hit #1 on the iTunes Dance Charts this past week, over MJ, Guetta, and some other solid competish. Haven't heard the full thing yet, but judging by the album teaser, it's got some good kicks.

Grab the album on Amazon or iTunes, or stick around TSRE for an upcoming album and poster giveaway!

Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto: Vegas (Album Teaser) (YSI)

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358195215639640946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCseUihvYKxUwpDWZObLdc4OK3cFQoSp19vfgGXxNIlMak_eSURZFYPuI-H8Z5bW60C91pis2qVK_d0zyrKHEN3bPRW8DlOIPYf55HdUquCDztX9t8o5ADqFAFtj9YvxoRGrXo6IfGKFk/s320/Paul%231_iTunesTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 320px;" /><div>I remember first hearing Paul Oakenfold when my sister got back from a semester in London about 8 years ago. It was around the same time that I heard about "Daft Punk" and "Dance Music". I caught a DMB remix he did a few years later, but hadn't heard much in a while.</div><div><br /></div>But there's some cool stuff coming out of Oakenfold's camp recently - his album hit #1 on the iTunes Dance Charts this past week, over MJ, Guetta, and some other solid competish. Haven't heard the full thing yet, but judging by the album teaser, it's got some good kicks.<div><br /></div><div>Grab the album on Amazon or iTunes, or stick around TSRE for an upcoming album and poster giveaway! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto: Vegas (Album Teaser) </b>(<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&send_id=702911250&email=e2f4fa54b0df7c05cade994aecaadb24">YSI</a>)</div>

Missing the Phoenix Boat

I like to think that here at TSRE we do a good job keeping abreast of new music, but we certainly overlooked Phoenix's newest release Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The French hipsters come out strong with a sound evoking an electro Vampire Weekend or The Strokes. Not only are the tracks well orchestrated, but they are so easy to fall in love with. In addition, Love Like a Sunset I is a tremendous instrumental track with such a huge sense of expectation and buildup. I am currently listening to the album non stop and I still cannot comprehend how I didn't start listening to it earlier. My apologies to Phoenix for the oversight.

Phoenix - Lisztomania (YSI) (filesavr)
Pheonix - Love Like a Sunset I (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPA5G52dW_V7qTkSxLcr_L_3QfNJCCttMurRGkWJTYo3PxWxli65UKhiZ-JxmqaS5DuhXN0tqhY_-5QtZedBVjbz5L0q-hBAl8Oj89TJPJBCjQ3yuBQg9a2NnH8bxa3fc4A7NH0c8V1LU/s1600-h/TSRE+Amadeus.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358137919633035682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPA5G52dW_V7qTkSxLcr_L_3QfNJCCttMurRGkWJTYo3PxWxli65UKhiZ-JxmqaS5DuhXN0tqhY_-5QtZedBVjbz5L0q-hBAl8Oj89TJPJBCjQ3yuBQg9a2NnH8bxa3fc4A7NH0c8V1LU/s320/TSRE+Amadeus.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" /></a>I like to think that here at TSRE we do a good job keeping abreast of new music, but we certainly overlooked Phoenix's newest release <span style="font-style: italic;">Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix</span>. The French hipsters come out strong with a sound evoking an electro Vampire Weekend or The Strokes. Not only are the tracks well orchestrated, but they are so easy to fall in love with. In addition, Love Like a Sunset I is a tremendous instrumental track with such a huge sense of expectation and buildup. I am currently listening to the album non stop and I still cannot comprehend how I didn't start listening to it earlier. My apologies to Phoenix for the oversight.<br /><br />Phoenix - Lisztomania (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcza3NkRkVRR2QzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01lisztomania" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />Pheonix - Love Like a Sunset I (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcza3NUSEJxRTJGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04lovelikeasunsetparti" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)

Your Twenties Take Summer, Play It Through Their Amps

I've never heard of this band before. I've never heard of this song before. I have no idea when I got this song.

It is awesome.

Perfect sunny summer pop. Your Twenties is a new band fronted by Gabriel Stebbing, the bassist/keyboardist from Metronomy. They have crafted the ideal mix of upbeat, catchy, and light to really capture summer. Your Twenties sound like what might have happened if the Beach Boys listened to a lot of Passion Pit. I can't stop listening to it. Like at all. I blame it on the Billionaires.

Needless to say, you need to listen to this song. Roll down the windows. Turn up the volume. Put it on repeat.

Your Twenties - Billionaires (YSI) (filesavr)

I've never heard of this band before. I've never heard of this song before. I have no idea when I got this song. <div><br /></div><div>It is awesome.</div><div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357812601526111330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7cmxYxIcMl1jMC3G8WVaDqOxj5z1rfxa942VEaDBW2wCgCj5SmjOZ_nL-zNBjOXA0iRYebaVMjmdZ7JnC22RXwuKLrD3sAm4yzuTb3CGULG5YUvlRG6QYt7YeXUEHA-UzKHAD5akKVo/s320/yourtwentiesTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 254px;" /><div>Perfect sunny summer pop. Your Twenties is a new band fronted by Gabriel Stebbing, the bassist/keyboardist from Metronomy. They have crafted the ideal mix of upbeat, catchy, and light to really capture summer. Your Twenties sound like what might have happened if the Beach Boys listened to a lot of Passion Pit. I can't stop listening to it. Like at all. I blame it on the Billionaires.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, you need to listen to this song. Roll down the windows. Turn up the volume. Put it on repeat. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Your Twenties - Billionaires</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcxQndGaTE1R1BIRGc9PQ">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/billionaires">filesavr</a>)</div>

Pop from Across the Pond

First off, I adore JMW Turner. Thinking about JMW Turner's paintings the other day I got to thinking about stuff that is currently awesome coming out of Britain. Sitting there it struck me that a lot of the awesome electro pop music that I am listening to these days (guilty pleasure?) is by female artists from Britain. While I have written about Little Boots and obsessed about Micachu before on TSRE, it really is quite stunning the volume of catchy pop there is from Britain these days. La Roux features massive vocals and a strident presence. I absolutely love Ellie Goulding and her electro singer song writing. New to the scene though is Marina and the Diamonds, originally discovered over at Neon Gold, their song Obsessions is probably my favorite and most played track at this instant. What a well crafted pop song: catchy chorus, powerful and agile vocals and that twinkling piano. Really, eventhing in this vein that comes out of Britain right now turns gold. Hooray for the Brits. Now go and check it all out.

Marina & The Diamonds - Obsessions (YSI) (filesavr)

La Roux - Fascination (YSI) (filesavr)

Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagNr92sZhijIhxshPdgK61ciWaY9awhiREXaqXJHSi3qvD6FezaKIfflut0-ibuWMye5k25DJOCePdfNSQRhVcFoNDm2R2wYXr45u_gfQnkp65fg-YNrZVR3yZJHIvAtTZKBSAFrLwBKl/s1600-h/TSRE+JMW+Turner.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356946610820398386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagNr92sZhijIhxshPdgK61ciWaY9awhiREXaqXJHSi3qvD6FezaKIfflut0-ibuWMye5k25DJOCePdfNSQRhVcFoNDm2R2wYXr45u_gfQnkp65fg-YNrZVR3yZJHIvAtTZKBSAFrLwBKl/s320/TSRE+JMW+Turner.JPG" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" /></a>First off, I adore JMW Turner. Thinking about JMW Turner's paintings the other day I got to thinking about stuff that is currently awesome coming out of Britain. Sitting there it struck me that a lot of the awesome electro pop music that I am listening to these days (guilty pleasure?) is by female artists from Britain. While I have written about Little Boots and obsessed about Micachu before on TSRE, it really is quite stunning the volume of catchy pop there is from Britain these days. La Roux features massive vocals and a strident presence. I absolutely love Ellie Goulding and her electro singer song writing. New to the scene though is Marina and the Diamonds, originally discovered over at <a href="http://neongoldrecords.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Neon Gold</a>, their song Obsessions is probably my favorite and most played track at this instant. What a well crafted pop song: catchy chorus, powerful and agile vocals and that twinkling piano. Really, eventhing in this vein that comes out of Britain right now turns gold. Hooray for the Brits. Now go and check it all out.<div><br /></div><div><b>Marina & The Diamonds - Obsessions</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwWGJGeWE3bURIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01obessions" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><b>La Roux - Fascination</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwWGJGeWFwcFhIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04fascination" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><b>Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwWGJGeWFIcWZIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02starryeyed_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>

A Look Back at 2008: Beck

Seeing as Fiscal Year 2009 (or FY09 if you prefer) for many companies has just come to a close, I figured some sort of reflection is in order. While a fuller FY09 retrospective may be arriving at TSRE in the next couple of weeks, I just wanted to share my continued love of Beck's Modern Guilt from FY09 that was also in my top 5 albums of 2008. In a fiscal year of massive remixes and synth explosions, Beck stayed minimal and created an engrossing guitar album. Both introspective and post apocalytpic, Modern Guilt addresses today's society, while sounding like it was recorded an eon ago. These songs have such great rhythms and catchiness that once I put on the album, it is staying on for a while. Beck has also been reissuing a bunch of his older albums recently, so check those out as well. Have a great summer weekend and listen to some awesome tunes!

Beck - Modern Guilt (YSI) (filesavr)

Beck - Youthless (YSI) (filesavr)

Beck - Gamma Ray (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO4ohS_m68GwSR4R3dLxvT2uAtAsqihPz1yzZOWT2loHhJc1PmaBper5ZRRd20zZ2f3XoogSfM0hCmyRvvJWy3YrV0fEEP8DWhCzQ7vPFkEm_5ZtwrZoy3dwWk-FLOkERxT80WxaECHoJ/s1600-h/TSRE+Beck.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356944597408160706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBO4ohS_m68GwSR4R3dLxvT2uAtAsqihPz1yzZOWT2loHhJc1PmaBper5ZRRd20zZ2f3XoogSfM0hCmyRvvJWy3YrV0fEEP8DWhCzQ7vPFkEm_5ZtwrZoy3dwWk-FLOkERxT80WxaECHoJ/s320/TSRE+Beck.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 320px;" /></a>Seeing as Fiscal Year 2009 (or FY09 if you prefer) for many companies has just come to a close, I figured some sort of reflection is in order. While a fuller FY09 retrospective may be arriving at TSRE in the next couple of weeks, I just wanted to share my continued love of Beck's <i>Modern Guilt </i>from FY09 that was also in my top 5 albums of 2008. In a fiscal year of massive remixes and synth explosions, Beck stayed minimal and created an engrossing guitar album. Both introspective and post apocalytpic, <i>Modern Guilt</i> addresses today's society, while sounding like it was recorded an eon ago. These songs have such great rhythms and catchiness that once I put on the album, it is staying on for a while. Beck has also been reissuing a bunch of his older albums recently, so check those out as well. Have a great summer weekend and listen to some awesome tunes!<div><br /></div><div><b>Beck - Modern Guilt</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwWGJITmEwMEdGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/04modernguilt" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><b>Beck - Youthless</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwWGJOWkJtNEtGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05youthless" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><b>Beck - Gamma Ray</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwWGJITmFBNkYzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02gammaray" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div>

Five Musical Moments

Over the past decade, music publications have been all about lists. Pitchfork’s 500 Greatest Songs. Rolling Stone’s top 500 songs, albums, and top 100 guitarists. VH1’s 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs. Music Blog X’s year-end list of favorite albums. I don’t have a problem with the list phenomenon, though the whole idea of pretending to establish a definitive ranking of great songs bothers me a little. How can you really argue that Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” is better than the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”? Or vice versa? They’re both great songs that have proved to be hugely influential in the decades since their release. Ranking one ahead of the other just seems odd.

Anyways, I’d like to do a list of my own. I could list my favorite songs, or favorite albums, or favorite singers or guitarists. But I’m not going to. Rather, I’m going to list a few of my favorite musical moments. Songs can be great due to compelling lyrical content, or due to gnarly guitar work, or due to interesting song structure. But some songs come to be favorites of mine due to one transcendent musical moment within the song. It might be a surprising key change, or an arrival or resolution so satisfying that it leaves the body tingling. Maybe it’s the introduction of an unexpected instrument, or perhaps it’s a groove or beat dropping such that you’re simply forced to dance. So I’m going to list a couple of my favorite moments. This will by no means be a complete list—hell, I may come back next week, and the week after, with more of my favorite moments—but here are five, in no particular order, to start things off.


Nas – N.Y. State of Mind (YSI) (filesavr)
0:17-0:25

This moment comes from the first full track off of Nas’s 1994 debut album, Illmatic (the opening track is more of a skit), one of the most kickin’ rap tracks of all time. My favorite moment comes right at the beginning, just before Nas is about to drop his first rhymes of the album—an album that is often listed among the best hip-hop albums of all time. Just before the verse begins, you can hear him say “I don’t know how to start this shit.” Apparently he’d just written it and didn’t know how to begin. But then he bursts into the rap with this absolutely fierce flow that just grabs you and gets your head bouncing. The track’s producer, DJ Premier, describes this awesome moment during the recording process:

“He didn’t know how he was gonna come in, but he just started going because we were recording. I’m actually yelling, ‘We’re recording!’ and banging on the window…You hear him start the shit: Rappers…And then everyone in the studio was like ‘Oh, my God’, ‘cause it was so unexpected…we was like, ‘Yo, this guy is gonna be big.’”

Led Zeppelin – Bring it on Home to Me (YSI) (filesavr)
1:35-1:49

I dig this moment because it forcefully juxtaposes the blues, in which rock n’ roll is rooted, with the hard rock that Zeppelin is famous for. “Bring it on Home to Me” starts off in a traditional blues style, with a shuffling guitar, harmonica, and affected vocals. Then, all of a sudden, as a verse comes to a close, a huge electric guitar riff comes out of nowhere, bringing the song into a completely different realm. Yet the lyrics and vocal melody retain many of the qualities from the song’s opening, showing just how directly the blues influence Zeppelin’s early heavy metal.


Bob Seger – Night Moves (YSI) (filesavr)
3:40-4:00

I’m not a huge Bob Seger fan, but “Night Moves” is a great tune, perfect for a nice summer evening. The moment I’m talking about comes after the song has died down. It almost seems like the song will end sad, with Seger wistfully singing that it’s strange how the night moves, as if some clichéd moment’s passed that will never be reclaimed. And then the familiar guitar strum comes back, the snare drum builds and, at last, the female backing chorus kicks in, bringing the song to its final groove that will cause you to smile and bob your head if you’ve got any soul.


Otis Redding – Just One More Day (YSI) (filesavr)
0:53-1:00

This moment comes from one of my favorite Otis Redding tunes. “One More Day” is a ballad in which Otis sings out pained pleas that his lover just give him one more day, and that if she does, he’ll “be anything that you want me to be.” It’s one of Otis’s most sorrowful songs, and his incredible voice is a perfect fit for the sentiment. This moment comes at the beginning of the second verse. The first verse and chorus have gone by, with Otis wailing over a subdued accompaniment. The second verse begins; Otis sings the first line, and then all of a sudden a brass ensemble butts in with a rising, accented figure that lends a brash reinforcement to Otis’s plaintive message. This figure appears through the rest of the song, but this first entrance is particularly powerful.


Jean Sibelius – Violin Concerto – Mvmt. I (YSI) (filesavr)
0:04-1:04

Sometimes music makes your spine tingle. I’ve read that one scenario which frequently causes this reaction is when a solo instrument plays against a hushed orchestral backdrop. The opening of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, for me, defines this phenomenon. The piece opens with trembling, shimmery strings (make sure you turn the volume up), which set the stage for the violin’s entrance. It enters softly first, though it’s not tentative—it’s more like a pure voice at a distance, beginning its approach. The violin grows in volume, eventually rising up to state the movement’s primary, dramatic theme. It’s one of the more chilling minutes in all of music, in my humble opinion, and the whole piece is pretty killer, so listen to all 19:37 of it if you can.

So those are five of my favorite musical moments. I’ve enjoyed listening to them over and over again in the process of writing this, and hope you enjoy them as well. If you’ve made it this far and haven’t wasted enough time in reading this, feel free to share some of your favorites below.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrabXQJnie0k3qtFPmSmvTjC1IJUKQzkiILjH8xbi1KhgN497_dHsfMfPWJkCr82C6uhp3jDZ9H3Z6xcNx-PFdegRElua0kflTs9Qb65L-nZgWDNbR1egZa1rtnhMLoytodeNGJ2ihrs/s1600-h/shapeimage_1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356574988658682130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrabXQJnie0k3qtFPmSmvTjC1IJUKQzkiILjH8xbi1KhgN497_dHsfMfPWJkCr82C6uhp3jDZ9H3Z6xcNx-PFdegRElua0kflTs9Qb65L-nZgWDNbR1egZa1rtnhMLoytodeNGJ2ihrs/s320/shapeimage_1.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 227px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Over the past decade, music publications have been all about lists. Pitchfork’s 500 Greatest Songs. Rolling Stone’s top 500 songs, albums, and top 100 guitarists. VH1’s 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs. Music Blog X’s year-end list of favorite albums. I don’t have a problem with the list phenomenon, though the whole idea of pretending to establish a definitive ranking of great songs bothers me a little. How can you really argue that Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” is better than the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”? Or vice versa? They’re both great songs that have proved to be hugely influential in the decades since their release. Ranking one ahead of the other just seems odd.<br /><br />Anyways, I’d like to do a list of my own. I could list my favorite songs, or favorite albums, or favorite singers or guitarists. But I’m not going to. Rather, I’m going to list a few of my favorite musical moments. Songs can be great due to compelling lyrical content, or due to gnarly guitar work, or due to interesting song structure. But some songs come to be favorites of mine due to one transcendent musical moment within the song. It might be a surprising key change, or an arrival or resolution so satisfying that it leaves the body tingling. Maybe it’s the introduction of an unexpected instrument, or perhaps it’s a groove or beat dropping such that you’re simply forced to dance. So I’m going to list a couple of my favorite moments. This will by no means be a complete list—hell, I may come back next week, and the week after, with more of my favorite moments—but here are five, in no particular order, to start things off.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nas – N.Y. State of Mind</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmczZm1ZYXlTRTZGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02nystateofmind" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />0:17-0:25<br /><br />This moment comes from the first full track off of Nas’s 1994 debut album, Illmatic (the opening track is more of a skit), one of the most kickin’ rap tracks of all time. My favorite moment comes right at the beginning, just before Nas is about to drop his first rhymes of the album—an album that is often listed among the best hip-hop albums of all time. Just before the verse begins, you can hear him say “I don’t know how to start this shit.” Apparently he’d just written it and didn’t know how to begin. But then he bursts into the rap with this absolutely fierce flow that just grabs you and gets your head bouncing. The track’s producer, DJ Premier, describes this awesome moment during the recording process:<br /><blockquote>“He didn’t know how he was gonna come in, but he just started going because we were recording. I’m actually yelling, ‘We’re recording!’ and banging on the window…You hear him start the shit: Rappers…And then everyone in the studio was like ‘Oh, my God’, ‘cause it was so unexpected…we was like, ‘Yo, this guy is gonna be big.’”</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Led Zeppelin – Bring it on Home to Me</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmczZm1kdENsamNLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/09bringitonhome1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />1:35-1:49<br /><br />I dig this moment because it forcefully juxtaposes the blues, in which rock n’ roll is rooted, with the hard rock that Zeppelin is famous for. “Bring it on Home to Me” starts off in a traditional blues style, with a shuffling guitar, harmonica, and affected vocals. Then, all of a sudden, as a verse comes to a close, a huge electric guitar riff comes out of nowhere, bringing the song into a completely different realm. Yet the lyrics and vocal melody retain many of the qualities from the song’s opening, showing just how directly the blues influence Zeppelin’s early heavy metal.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bob Seger – Night Moves</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmczZm1RT01ubHhMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/nightmoves1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />3:40-4:00<br /><br />I’m not a huge Bob Seger fan, but “Night Moves” is a great tune, perfect for a nice summer evening. The moment I’m talking about comes after the song has died down. It almost seems like the song will end sad, with Seger wistfully singing that it’s strange how the night moves, as if some clichéd moment’s passed that will never be reclaimed. And then the familiar guitar strum comes back, the snare drum builds and, at last, the female backing chorus kicks in, bringing the song to its final groove that will cause you to smile and bob your head if you’ve got any soul.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Otis Redding – Just One More Day</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcxK2VsSWhVbTlMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/5-17justonemoreday1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />0:53-1:00<br /><br />This moment comes from one of my favorite Otis Redding tunes. “One More Day” is a ballad in which Otis sings out pained pleas that his lover just give him one more day, and that if she does, he’ll “be anything that you want me to be.” It’s one of Otis’s most sorrowful songs, and his incredible voice is a perfect fit for the sentiment. This moment comes at the beginning of the second verse. The first verse and chorus have gone by, with Otis wailing over a subdued accompaniment. The second verse begins; Otis sings the first line, and then all of a sudden a brass ensemble butts in with a rising, accented figure that lends a brash reinforcement to Otis’s plaintive message. This figure appears through the rest of the song, but this first entrance is particularly powerful.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jean Sibelius – Violin Concerto – Mvmt. I</span> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmczZm1lUzdtMEtGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01violinconcertoindminoriallegromoderatocopy" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)<br />0:04-1:04<br /><br />Sometimes music makes your spine tingle. I’ve read that one scenario which frequently causes this reaction is when a solo instrument plays against a hushed orchestral backdrop. The opening of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, for me, defines this phenomenon. The piece opens with trembling, shimmery strings (make sure you turn the volume up), which set the stage for the violin’s entrance. It enters softly first, though it’s not tentative—it’s more like a pure voice at a distance, beginning its approach. The violin grows in volume, eventually rising up to state the movement’s primary, dramatic theme. It’s one of the more chilling minutes in all of music, in my humble opinion, and the whole piece is pretty killer, so listen to all 19:37 of it if you can.<br /><br />So those are five of my favorite musical moments. I’ve enjoyed listening to them over and over again in the process of writing this, and hope you enjoy them as well. If you’ve made it this far and haven’t wasted enough time in reading this, feel free to share some of your favorites below.<br /><br /></span>

TSRE Wonders: Exclusive Interview with Jason Drake of Cassettes Won't Listen

We here at The Stu Reid Experiment had a chance to catch up with Jason Drake of Cassettes Won't Listen for an exclusive interview this week. We asked him about his experiences as both a remixer and original songwriter, how hip hop has influenced his work, and what his favorite article of clothing is (and he gets bonus points for a picture!). Check it out below:

TSRE: If you had to give someone an introduction to your music, before they had ever heard any of your songs, what would you tell them to listen for? How would you describe your music?

CWL: I always start off by saying I'm a producer or electronic artist mixed with singing/songwriting. From there you can usually tell if the person knows exactly what I'm talking about or if they have no clue. If they know then we're all good, if not then I usually say I play guitar.

TSRE: Would you start them off with Into The Hillside? Or would you take a more chronological viewpoint?

CWL: Into The Hillside is an album that is very specific to where I was over the last year. If I were to start them off I would probably go earlier and play them "Cutting Balloons" from 2005, give them a remix or two I've hooked up for other artists, and finish them up with something from Small-Time Machine.

TSRE: We first got exposed to you via some of the remixes you have done – Pela, El-P, Asobi Seksu, and many more. Which do you prefer, remixing or creating original tunes? How does your approach differ when attacking remixes vs. covers vs. originals?

CWL: I approach remixes and covers with much less anxiety and feeling of helplessness. Both have somewhat of a structure to work with and some sort of direction. Original songs are the most rewarding while also being the most terrifying. I have to make sure Im experiencing something big in life to pull inspiration from while writing songs. I don't want to sing about how I'm sitting around watching TV. That's what twitter is for.

TSRE: The remix table was turned on you, recently, when you were remixed by Diplo and DJ Avia. What’s it like to hear one of your own tracks get the remix treatment?

CWL: I love it...... when I like the remix, which is most of the time. It's sort of hard to deal when the remix doesn't compliment the track. When remixing, there is a fine line between genius and a complete strike out.

TSRE: You work(ed?) for Def Jux at one point. How did your experiences there affect your music? Do you feel like your music has been influenced by hip hop?

CWL: I still do work for Def Jux and have been for a while now. I came on board around the beginning, right around when Aesop Rock's Labor Days was coming out. The label has become almost an extension of who I am, if I grew another arm I would probably call it Def Jux. Being constantly surrounded by El-P, Cage, Aesop Rock, etc has always had an impact on my music and career. They've all been very supportive. I grew up listening to hip hop so it will always have a place in my music.

TSRE: As a musician with some marketing experience, what’s your feeling on the “blogosphere”. Is it good for musicians? Is it good for music? (No need to candy coat, we have thick skin).

CWL: Seems like that's a trick question. It's great but then it's not great. It's great because it opens the scene up to so many new bands / music that you would of never heard before. But that's the blogosphere's downfall. Too much music and too many bands to listen to. Everyone has a presence online nowadays so it sort of ruins the scene by spreading it too thin. Our artist on Def Jux, Cage, says that the underground doesn't exist anymore. It's true. I remember riding the bus up to Manhattan to hit record stores that stocked music you couldn't get anywhere else and I loved it! Now you can just download it. I probably would have hated the internet growing up but now Im addicted to it. Who wants to travel two hours to go to a record shop?

TSRE: What’s your favorite piece of musical equipment?

CWL: I've finally gotten into software synths and started recording with Logic. I'd probably have to say that my computer is my favorite instrument. Although I've recently bought a Monome so you'll have to ask me once I've had more time to fuck around with it.

TSRE: The last three albums you listened to beginning-to-end?

CWL: Wow, thats a hard one. I think they were the new Wu-Tang comp that just came out, One Foot In The Grave by Beck (reissue), and Cage's Depart From Me.

TSRE: One thing you haven’t done in music yet that you would like to do?

CWL: National / World Tour

TSRE: And finally, what is the most awesome piece of clothing you own? Bonus points for pictures.

CWL: My limited edition JB Classics "Miami" sneakers. I've been an on-again off-again sneaker freak for a while now.

Cassettes Won't Listen - Quickly Approaching (YSI) (filesavr)

Asobi Seksu - Strawberries (Cassettes Won't Listen Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Cassettes Won't Listen - Paper Float (Diplo and DJ Avia Remix) (YSI) (filesavr)

Thanks to Jason for the interview!

<span class="fullpost">We here at The Stu Reid Experiment had a chance to catch up with Jason Drake of Cassettes Won't Listen for an exclusive interview this week. We asked him about his experiences as both a remixer and original songwriter, how hip hop has influenced his work, and what his favorite article of clothing is (and he gets bonus points for a picture!). Check it out below:<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356307392163532418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY32hy0HAYCn81_T-YM29GVuMTlRZtGfY8z5mYoLcc_9pob_RBzU5sDXoEecMJ-eks4HFqdhoFAhdnWPe9GERHUbdrjHv5zfOCHiDYZJ0asZf-6fy8Fs7ni3XIrmUyG8C3nfAdGN8MRJc/s320/CWL+TSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">If you had to give someone an introduction to your music, before they had ever heard any of your songs, what would you tell them to listen for?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How would you describe your music?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I always start off by saying I'm a producer or electronic artist mixed with singing/songwriting. From there you can usually tell if the person knows exactly what I'm talking about or if they have no clue. If they know then we're all good, if not then I usually say I play guitar.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Would you start them off with <i>Into The Hillside</i>?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or would you take a more chronological viewpoint? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>Into The Hillside</i> is an album that is very specific to where I was over the last year. If I were to start them off I would probably go earlier and play them "Cutting Balloons" from 2005, give them a remix or two I've hooked up for other artists, and finish them up with something from <i>Small-Time Machine</i>.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We first got exposed to you via some of the remixes you have done – Pela, El-P, Asobi Seksu, and many more.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Which do you prefer, remixing or creating original tunes?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How does your approach differ when attacking remixes vs. covers vs. originals? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I approach remixes and covers with much less anxiety and feeling of helplessness. Both have somewhat of a structure to work with and some sort of direction. Original songs are the most rewarding while also being the most terrifying. I have to make sure Im experiencing something big in life to pull inspiration from while writing songs. I don't want to sing about how I'm sitting around watching TV. That's what twitter is for.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The remix table was turned on you, recently, when you were remixed by Diplo and DJ Avia.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What’s it like to hear one of your own tracks get the remix treatment? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I love it...... when I like the remix, which is most of the time. It's sort of hard to deal when the remix doesn't compliment the track. When remixing, there is a fine line between genius and a complete strike out.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You work(ed?) for Def Jux at one point.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How did your experiences there affect your music?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Do you feel like your music has been influenced by hip hop? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I still do work for Def Jux and have been for a while now. I came on board around the beginning, right around when Aesop Rock's Labor Days was coming out. The label has become almost an extension of who I am, if I grew another arm I would probably call it Def Jux. Being constantly surrounded by El-P, Cage, Aesop Rock, etc has always had an impact on my music and career. They've all been very supportive. I grew up listening to hip hop so it will always have a place in my music.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As a musician with some marketing experience, what’s your feeling on the “blogosphere”.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is it good for musicians?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Is it good for music? (No need to candy coat, we have thick skin). </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Seems like that's a trick question. It's great but then it's not great. It's great because it opens the scene up to so many new bands / music that you would of never heard before. But that's the blogosphere's downfall. Too much music and too many bands to listen to. Everyone has a presence online nowadays so it sort of ruins the scene by spreading it too thin. Our artist on Def Jux, Cage, says that the underground doesn't exist anymore. It's true. I remember riding the bus up to Manhattan to hit record stores that stocked music you couldn't get anywhere else and I loved it! Now you can just download it. I probably would have hated the internet growing up but now Im addicted to it. Who wants to travel two hours to go to a record shop?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What’s your favorite piece of musical equipment? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I've finally gotten into software synths and started recording with Logic. I'd probably have to say that my computer is my favorite instrument. Although I've recently bought a Monome so you'll have to ask me once I've had more time to fuck around with it.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The last three albums you listened to beginning-to-end? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wow, thats a hard one. I think they were the new Wu-Tang comp that just came out, <i>One Foot In The Grave</i> by Beck (reissue), and Cage's <i>Depart From Me</i>.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">One thing you haven’t done in music yet that you would like to do? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">National / World Tour</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356303054965551250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxIqDxKWoLZPGMAFoTc2BjHt5su_lSx2MCfBC4zxzt4IaDZ5bN8dwVU53xIA3XkIPEbmd2abqv8133BEEzj8PlaXZy3Ug9RAaAjSeZA5NDR3BPqZc9EMHqku-Adx_uUP1NrhyphenhyphenqJWSN0b4/s320/CWL+Favorite+ClothingTSRE.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 320px;" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">TSRE: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And finally, what is the most awesome piece of clothing you own?</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bonus points for pictures. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">CWL: </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">My limited edition JB Classics "Miami" sneakers. I've been an on-again off-again sneaker freak for a while now.</span></span></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Cassettes Won't Listen - Quickly Approaching </b>(<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcxZGlpTk1qV0IzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/07quicklyapproaching" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Asobi Seksu - Strawberries (Cassettes Won't Listen Remix) </b>(<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcxZGlrNXZreENGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/strawberriescwlremix" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Cassettes Won't Listen - Paper Float (Diplo and DJ Avia Remix) </b>(<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcxZGlrNXZWRDkzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/paperfloatdiploanddjaviaremix" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks to Jason for the interview!</div>

More Movie Music - The Great Tunes of the 500 Days Of Summer Trailer

Continuing on the movies/music theme, I saw a trailer for the upcoming Zooey Deschanel flick 500 Days of Summer on Sunday night, and was psyched to hear some great tunes in the preview. The clip starts with Zooey and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (the kid from 10 Things I Hate About You) standing in an elevator, with Zooey commenting on The Smiths song that he's listening to. It's a very Garden State moment - indie kid A talking to indie kid B about indie band C playing on a pair of headphones. But she's right - "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" is a fantastic song.

The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (YSI) (filesavr)

It is, in fact, the basis for one of my favorite covers of all time - the little known remake by Schneider TM. It's an electro affair that builds on the original Smiths version to give it a completely different feel. I COMPLETELY love this song. Lifetime playcount probably above 100.

Schneider TM - The Light 3000 (YSI) (filesavr)

The trailer then goes on to play one of my favorite Regina Spektor songs, "Us". It's a great tune off of her 2004 album Soviet Kitsch. One of the more romantic songs you'll hear, and it works perfectly in the movie preview. God I love this song.

Regina Spektor - Us (YSI) (filesavr)

I dunno. The trailer doesn't actually look all that great. It seems a little too gimmicky, a little too predictable, a little too boy-from-10-things-i-hate-about-you. But the music draws me in. Perhaps I'll venture to the theatre to take in some cinema, if only to catch some tunes on the big screen.

Continuing on the movies/music theme, I saw a trailer for the upcoming Zooey Deschanel flick <i>500 Days of Summer</i> on Sunday night, and was psyched to hear some great tunes in the preview. The clip starts with Zooey and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (the kid from <i>10 Things I Hate About You</i>) standing in an elevator, with Zooey commenting on The Smiths song that he's listening to. It's a very <i>Garden State</i> moment - indie kid A talking to indie kid B about indie band C playing on a pair of headphones. But she's right - "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" is a fantastic song.<div><br /></div><div><b>The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out</b> (<a href="http://download.yousendit.com/dVlyV296MGNiV3dLSkE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/18thereisalightthatnevergoesout" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>It is, in fact, the basis for one of my favorite covers of all time - the little known remake by Schneider TM. It's an electro affair that builds on the original Smiths version to give it a completely different feel. I COMPLETELY love this song. Lifetime playcount probably above 100.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Schneider TM - The Light 3000</b> (<a href="http://download.yousendit.com/dVlyV294Z1AzMWxMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05thelight3000remakebyschneidertmkptmichigan" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>The trailer then goes on to play one of my favorite Regina Spektor songs, "Us". It's a great tune off of her 2004 album <i>Soviet Kitsch</i>. One of the more romantic songs you'll hear, and it works perfectly in the movie preview. God I love this song.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Regina Spektor - Us</b> (<a href="http://download.yousendit.com/dVlyV296MGNIcWQzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05us1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PsD0NpFSADM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PsD0NpFSADM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I dunno. The trailer doesn't actually look all that great. It seems a little too gimmicky, a little too predictable, a little too boy-from-10-things-i-hate-about-you. But the music draws me in. Perhaps I'll venture to the theatre to take in some cinema, if only to catch some tunes on the big screen.</div><div><b><br /></b></div>

Alexi Murdoch Soundtracks Away We Go Perfectly

I got a chance to check out Away We Go on Sunday night - the new movie with John Krasinski (Jim from The Office) and Maya Rudolph (awesome from SNL) - and was pleasantly surprised. It had a pretty complete package: comedy, romance, life lessons, Maggie Gyllenhaal. What else could you ask for? Rudolph and Krasinski play "fuck-up" 30-somethings about to have a baby. They have great chemistry on screen, and develop a combination of goofy and sincere well on screen. The screenplay is by David Eggers, of A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius, and is pretty phenomenal. And Allison Janney is absolutely the bomb diggity in it. Sidenote: I love Allison Janney.

I was also super psyched about the soundtrack to the movie, which was exclusively done by Alexi Murdoch. I have always loved Murdoch, since the first time I caught "Orange Sky" on WXPN in Philly, and I'm glad he's getting some mainstream play. Murdoch's kind of a suave Jack Johnson, a lush Jose Gonzalez, and he writes great songs. The perfect soundtrack to a light-heartedly introspective movie.

Check out a couple of Alexi's tunes, as well as the trailer for Away We Go. I would definitely recommend it as a humorous and sentimental break from the summer blockbusters.

Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky (YSI) (filesavr)

Alexi Murdoch - All Of My Days (YSI) (filesavr)

I got a chance to check out Away We Go on Sunday night - the new movie with John Krasinski (Jim from The Office) and Maya Rudolph (awesome from SNL) - and was pleasantly surprised. It had a pretty complete package: comedy, romance, life lessons, Maggie Gyllenhaal. What else could you ask for? Rudolph and Krasinski play "fuck-up" 30-somethings about to have a baby. They have great chemistry on screen, and develop a combination of goofy and sincere well on screen. The screenplay is by David Eggers, of <i>A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius</i>, and is pretty phenomenal. And Allison Janney is absolutely the bomb diggity in it. Sidenote: I love Allison Janney.<div><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355532811076334642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIHR2KnmJOy0fnKex3mScwzNdyEmcUMkCzw4vGC8-UCNLsLJhJMNSoRf9WGHp5UCyO5-eSTavjHxWltHE3dNqe9wfX5C0-R7JmNSayiHGJhvydmFfZA26EOG3LPvg5Kyi2gs0XdLdqXA/s320/AwayWeGoTSRE.JPG" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" /><div>I was also super psyched about the soundtrack to the movie, which was exclusively done by Alexi Murdoch. I have always loved Murdoch, since the first time I caught "Orange Sky" on WXPN in Philly, and I'm glad he's getting some mainstream play. Murdoch's kind of a suave Jack Johnson, a lush Jose Gonzalez, and he writes great songs. The perfect soundtrack to a light-heartedly introspective movie.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out a couple of Alexi's tunes, as well as the trailer for Away We Go. I would definitely recommend it as a humorous and sentimental break from the summer blockbusters.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4mpLvUY8TUE&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4mpLvUY8TUE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><div><br /></div><div><b>Alexi Murdoch - Orange Sky </b>(<a href="http://download.yousendit.com/dVlyS3hkQ1J5UkdGa1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/02orangesky" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Alexi Murdoch - All Of My Days</b> (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcySkhWSWgzMW1Ga1E9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01allmydays" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)</div>

More Icelandic Goodness

Despite a faltering economy, Iceland has extraordinary things brewing in its local music scene. We all already know about Sigur Ros, but Sin Fang Bous is primed to emerge next from the continental rift. Channeling a thick, jittery folk sound reminiscent of Gobbledigook, minus its grand sense of majesty, Sin Fang Bous offer a solid album of multi layered folk in Clangour. While parts of the album struggle to differentiate themsevles from the rest, standout tracks like Advent in Ives Garden and We Belong that utilize a depth of instrumentation, including myriad twinkling things, are self contained little gems of organic folk. Mottled sunshine through the window of a wooden cabin just as you realize you have one more day off before returning to work.

Sin Fang Bous - Advent in Ives Garden (filesavr) (YSI)
Sin Fang Bous - We Belong (filesavr) (YSI)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AsCP5uSaXljOolq-9ZTMTUaCSpFRfeuqaFva9Gxg2hCtaq7Fd_-ESAveA4wEaYbUJ10miHsICGwjukLZoabgXdPj2nmDl60XwHWMNYIj1EZaL8b8YyMWZRXDq2omVTYD3S9RHo4Wct-o/s1600-h/TSRE+Iceland.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354080137579523394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9AsCP5uSaXljOolq-9ZTMTUaCSpFRfeuqaFva9Gxg2hCtaq7Fd_-ESAveA4wEaYbUJ10miHsICGwjukLZoabgXdPj2nmDl60XwHWMNYIj1EZaL8b8YyMWZRXDq2omVTYD3S9RHo4Wct-o/s320/TSRE+Iceland.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 161px;" /></a>Despite a faltering economy, Iceland has extraordinary things brewing in its local music scene. We all already know about Sigur Ros, but Sin Fang Bous is primed to emerge next from the continental rift. Channeling a thick, jittery folk sound reminiscent of Gobbledigook, minus its grand sense of majesty, Sin Fang Bous offer a solid album of multi layered folk in <span style="font-style: italic;">Clangour</span>. While parts of the album struggle to differentiate themsevles from the rest, standout tracks like Advent in Ives Garden and We Belong that utilize a depth of instrumentation, including myriad twinkling things, are self contained little gems of organic folk. Mottled sunshine through the window of a wooden cabin just as you realize you have one more day off before returning to work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sin Fang Bous - Advent in Ives Garden</span> (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01adventinivesgarden" target="_blank">filesavr</a>) (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwN3RmYWJ5UkZMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sin Fang Bous - We Belong</span> (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/07webelong" target="_blank">filesavr</a>) (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwN3RhU1BFc0xIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>)

More Summer Jams for a Summer Day

First nice day in a while. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend. I am currently enjoying myself in New Hampshire and thus only have time to offer you a couple of saucy jams for a happy summer day such as this. Enjoy.

Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel (filesavr) (YSI)
Janelle Monae - Sincerely, Jane. (filesavr) (YSI)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtW2Icdg6BdSL3UOKVIKe1kv-vvFEpnR2bdHWKHhYs_VtWFWKIaORlt05urJ_ARa7HV-Bfvh0bizGNCT8HywdnUnVo8szZOEaJP4gYIxzUZ1ykamO2IY47Hang-vc0K4DlEf3JEzul6wY/s1600-h/TSRE+hot+dogs.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354076780790967954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtW2Icdg6BdSL3UOKVIKe1kv-vvFEpnR2bdHWKHhYs_VtWFWKIaORlt05urJ_ARa7HV-Bfvh0bizGNCT8HywdnUnVo8szZOEaJP4gYIxzUZ1ykamO2IY47Hang-vc0K4DlEf3JEzul6wY/s320/TSRE+hot+dogs.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 320px;" /></a>First nice day in a while. Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend. I am currently enjoying myself in New Hampshire and thus only have time to offer you a couple of saucy jams for a happy summer day such as this. Enjoy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel</span> (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/01surprisehotel" target="_blank">filesavr</a>) (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwN3RXcWZ3TGgzZUE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Janelle Monae - Sincerely, Jane.</span> (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/05sincerelyjane_1" target="_blank">filesavr</a>) (<a href="http://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwN3RRQ3RRYTlMWEE9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>)

Independence Day

“We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”

- President Thomas Whitmore

Yes, today is the 4th of July, a day of patriotic celebrations all over the nation. The celebration takes many forms, from fireworks to barbecues to parades. One of my favorite celebrations comes on the night of July 4th, when the Boston Pops perform at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in a concert that is broadcast across the country. The concert itself isn’t always particularly exciting. There’s usually a guest artist, often from the vaguely named “adult contemporary” genre. A couple of years ago, it was Barry Manilow. This year, it’s Neil Diamond.

But, the way the concert ends is spectacular. The final piece of the evening is always Tchaikovsky’s bombastic 1812 overture, leading into fireworks over the Charles River. Tchaikovsky’s piece is a strange choice for a celebration of American independence. It has nothing to do with the American war of 1812, but rather was written to commemorate the Russians driving back Napoleon in 1812. Indeed, it portrays a sort of musical competition between the traditional Russian anthem “God Save the Czar” and the French anthem “La Marseillaise” (if you don’t know the latter tune, it is used as the introduction to the Beatles’ Summer of Love classic “All You Need is Love”).

It wasn’t appropriated as an American tradition until 1974, when Arthur Fiedler, the longtime conductor of the Pops, featured it in the July 4th concert in an effort to increase the event’s audience. The timing seems a bit odd, as the Cold War was in full swing at the time, but I’m glad he made the choice he did. Despite the piece’s Russian roots, it is a perfect fit for an Independence Day celebration, clearly portraying a struggle that ends with a triumphant finale, complete with blasts from a cannon. It is a wonderfully rousing way of transitioning from concert to fireworks show, and I’m looking forward to enjoying it again this year.

Happy 4th of July!

Tchaikovsky – 1812 Overture (YSI) (filesavr)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6wv4IxWeYGc28PuEjTrra8lmANaYLsDu8WD2fKyi3OKs7PfCN5PLe2zh8rSIyoqU4TrqiFybA7mkOzhmsOy83tXwpp6eI2bOoCmqDKXJzcFUljgvH5243_BnTfslNwvD4fV_tcd0nHw/s1600-h/boston-fireworks.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5353626835990249106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6wv4IxWeYGc28PuEjTrra8lmANaYLsDu8WD2fKyi3OKs7PfCN5PLe2zh8rSIyoqU4TrqiFybA7mkOzhmsOy83tXwpp6eI2bOoCmqDKXJzcFUljgvH5243_BnTfslNwvD4fV_tcd0nHw/s320/boston-fireworks.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" /></a>“We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day!”<br /><br /> - President Thomas Whitmore<br /><br />Yes, today is the 4th of July, a day of patriotic celebrations all over the nation. The celebration takes many forms, from fireworks to barbecues to parades. One of my favorite celebrations comes on the night of July 4th, when the Boston Pops perform at the Hatch Shell on the Esplanade in a concert that is broadcast across the country. The concert itself isn’t always particularly exciting. There’s usually a guest artist, often from the vaguely named “adult contemporary” genre. A couple of years ago, it was Barry Manilow. This year, it’s Neil Diamond.<br /><br />But, the way the concert ends is spectacular. The final piece of the evening is always Tchaikovsky’s bombastic 1812 overture, leading into fireworks over the Charles River. Tchaikovsky’s piece is a strange choice for a celebration of American independence. It has nothing to do with the American war of 1812, but rather was written to commemorate the Russians driving back Napoleon in 1812. Indeed, it portrays a sort of musical competition between the traditional Russian anthem “God Save the Czar” and the French anthem “La Marseillaise” (if you don’t know the latter tune, it is used as the introduction to the Beatles’ Summer of Love classic “All You Need is Love”).<br /><br />It wasn’t appropriated as an American tradition until 1974, when Arthur Fiedler, the longtime conductor of the Pops, featured it in the July 4th concert in an effort to increase the event’s audience. The timing seems a bit odd, as the Cold War was in full swing at the time, but I’m glad he made the choice he did. Despite the piece’s Russian roots, it is a perfect fit for an Independence Day celebration, clearly portraying a struggle that ends with a triumphant finale, complete with blasts from a cannon. It is a wonderfully rousing way of transitioning from concert to fireworks show, and I’m looking forward to enjoying it again this year.<br /><br />Happy 4th of July!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tchaikovsky – 1812 Overture</span> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/cmcwTkZ1cTJ1YlBIRGc9PQ" target="_blank">YSI</a>) (<a href="http://www.filesavr.com/011812festivalovertureineflatop49" target="_blank">filesavr</a>)