Wow. It's been a while since I've posted something.
So I've decided to go all out before I leave the country for 5months... and forget all about Chicago/Madison/-7°F weather... by posting more songs today than I have since the creation of this blog.
It took me a while to decide how to arrange the following tracks. I hate genres. Well, I hate putting music in categories [I'm just bad at it]. Brian [that other guy that's been, more or less, picking up the slack on i8] suggested I sort them by their "uptemponess."
Yes, now a word.
So here goes nothing...
[Let's start off with the slower ones and gradually pick up the pace]
Port O'Brien:
The Whiskey Song [zshare]
I love this group. I love this song.
I discovered California/Alaska based group Port O'Brien from Pitchfork [Does anyone want to admit that?] and I fell in love. "I Woke Up Today" [the first released version] was great and then I found "The Whiskey Song." Their co-ed chorus and minimal plucking and strumming just tugs at your heart.
Though we know that the whiskey is sour, sour we will drink it down anywaysIf you like this new breed of indie folk that's been moping around...
and know how it feels to be down on your luck, give this song a listen.
The Middle East:
Lonely [zshare]
We have material mindsand restless handsLonging heartsand lonely bedsI agree with
Tsururadio, "ambient post-rock folk" is dead on.
At 7:27min long, this song will not disappoint. Not that these bands sound like The Middle East, but TME reminds me of the first time I heard Appleseed Cast or Explosions in the Sky.
Now if only their name was a little more Google-friendly.
She & Him:
You Really Got A Hold On Me [zshare]
Ah. I've always loved the song "
You Really Got a Hold On Me" (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles via Youtube). The perfect song about being attracted to another person, uncontrollably longing for them, even though you know that this person isn't right for you.
That unexplainable attraction I can definitely relate to. I could go on and on about this song... with Rules of Attraction references... The Beatles... the whole shabang.
But let's not. I didn't even like She & Him until this song. If case you didn't know, Zooey Deschanel can sing!
And so can Bonnie Bramlett. This is my childhood right
here (Bonnie Bramlett on Roseanne via Youtube). Well, that and Martin.
[And look at that. Y'all get 3 versions]
Final Fantasy:
That's When The Audience Died [zshare]
Owen Pallett. Wow. The most beautiful "indie" music I've ever heard has come out of this one man show. This song, with strings galore, and apparently about Canada's tumultuous history, builds and builds till it melts in complete heartbreak.
Close your eyes. Listen.
Jill Scott:
I Keep / Still Here [zshare]
People bringin' you down? Jill Scott has the remedy.
An uplifting, empowering two part track that has J.Scott written all over it.
Personal fave that seems to be hard to find on the interwebs.... what gives?
Drake:
Say You Will [zshare]
Kanye? Wait...
Jimmy?! Nope,
Drake.
This is what Kanye should've sounded like. I was pretty disappointed with his latest album. I'll admit it, I can't stand this vox shit craze. I couldn't even hear the genius [good work, Kanye] behind this track until I heard Drake's version [thanks, Drake].
Curumin:
Misterio Stereo [zshare]
My friend introduced me to Curumin a couple of years back and I've been forever grateful. His funky Brazilian samba style gives me the chills and Portuguese... is just beautiful.
This track is from their newest album, Japanpopshow, which I sadly don't own yet. Take this one out for a spin in your car... windows up [it's cold out in these parts], bass pumping, attempting to sing along, and just jam.
Shirley Kwan:
Mong Gei Ta [zshare]
The original "Mong Gei Ta" ("Forget Him"), according to Wikipedia, is arguably the most widely known Cantonese pop song ever produced. Now that's something. This Shirley Kwan cover is a great pop song that is easy to understand even if you don't know Cantonese.
I first heard "Mong Gei Ta" in Wong Kar-Wai's film Fallen Angel and I remember going to my computer when it was over and anxiously searching the internet for the tracks. Look at it as the the advice from the best friend to the singer of "You've really Got a Hold of Me." Forget Him.
Shuggie Otis:
Aht Uh Mi Hed [zshare]
Aw hell Shuggie Shuggie. Inspiration Information is an amazing album. After listening to it for the first time I was more upset than happy. I was upset that I hadn't discoverer it sooner.
Released in '74, Shuggie's album, filled with beautiful funk, R&B and innovative arrangements, went overlooked. Now don't let history repeat itself.
Listen to this, and then go look for Strawberry Letter 23, Rainy Day... wait, just go buy the darn thing!
Q-Tip:
We Fight/Love (featuring Raphael Saadiq) [zshare]
Taken from Q-Tip's latest album, The Renaissance, this song is so... Q-Tip.
How could this not be golden?
Q-Tip doing what he does best. Raphael Saadiq on the chorus. Solid samples.
If you don't already have it get it now.
A. R. Rahman:
Ringa Ringa [zshare]
Go see Slumdog Millionaire! [All right. I feel better]
This track is taken from Slumdog's amazing soundtrack.
This song will have you on your feet, Bollywood style, in no time. Guaranteed.
Ananda Shankar:
Dancing Drums [zshare]
Picking up the pace, and keeping with the Indian theme, up next is Ananda Shankar's popular hit, "Dancing Drums."
This song is epic. Just epic. It's like a soundtrack to a short film... teleporting you back to the 70s. To a smokey room, hookahs and pillows, colored lights, and saris draped everywhere. Basically the inside of I Dream of Jeannie's bottle.
If you like trippy experimental music... with SITARS! this song will not disappoint.
Weird Tapes:
My Babe Walk [zshare]
An odd favorite of mine. It's the type of song that most of my friends find too awkward to dance to. And I can't for the life of my understand why? Hell, we can still juke to this.
You won't believe what sample they end up squeezing into this little gem.
Hint: The singer was in this
movie. Yeesh. I had a strange childhood.
Paper Route Gangstaz:
'Bama Getting Money [zshare]
I really wish that they released this version, along with the remixed version [which you can get from B.Rizzle's post below ], with their mixtape. After hearing this song, you'll understand why their mixtape included remixed tracks by artists like Diplo. This song might be cheesy, but I was a fan as soon as I heard it.
Izza Kizza:
Georgie Porgie [zshare]
Another great artist gracing the internet with an amazing, free mixtape is Izza Kizza. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this song [on repeat] riding my bike around campus. He takes the usual "used to be a playa" theme and makes it so much more.
Whitney Houston:
I Wanna Dance With Somebody (OCD Automatic Remix) [zshare]
Oh Whitney. This comes straight from the dance floors of Madison, WI. OCD Automatic has made many of my Friday/Saturday nights out on the town into heart-thumping, air-humping, dance-filled nights of shameless dancing to amazing songs like this. The original means nothing to me anymore. There is only OCD.
There's enough room on the dance floor for you and your 40 when this song gets going.
Willy Joy:
The Barn OwlAnd to cap it all off is a nice dance mix from
Willy Joy. I was lucky to get his cd, Fly By Night Vol. 1, when I saw him play in Madison last year. He was great and so is this mix.
Here's a rough list of the songs found on this track [courtesy of
Mashit]:
Rasheeda: "My Bubblegum"
Clipse featuring Slim Thug: “Wamp Wamp”
Anthony B, Wyclef & Bonecrusher: “Lighter (Remix)”
Idonia: "Chicken Head"
Project Pat: "Chicken Head"
Mike The 2600 King: “Let Me Bang (Mike 2600 remix)”
Lil Flip featuring David Banner: “Like A Pimp (Kirby Remix)”
Lil Flip: “Game Over (Remix)”
Beck: “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime”
ENJOY!
And a lil somethin' somethin' on the side:
Tommy Guerrero:
Salve (featuring Curumin) [zshare]
This track is gold. I just wish it was longer.
[Photo by K.Allcox]
