July 13th, 2009
Hailing from Ottawa, Aaron Matthews boasts an intimate familiarity with the meaning of the phrase, “So Icy.” On a related note, Trey Kerby once made a snowman using nothing but a half-dozen cups of shaved ice and Bill Hanzlik’s mustache.
Download: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FTB8M6QE
Aaron M:
For a little context, I currently reside in Canada’s capital, Ottawa.
Ottawa winters are groin-grabbingly cold and they feel endless. This is balanced out by the surprisingly warm and pleasant summers. We appreciate sunshine all the more with the knowledge that we only have a few months of warm weather left to enjoy.
The first side of The Cory Matthews Mixtape is intended to accompany you on a lazy summer day, with each song perfectly suited for a specific scenario or moment in your day.
Note that these scenarios aren’t all supposed to take place within the tape’s 40 minute runtime. Keep this on loop on a hot day and good stuff will happen, trust.
First the alarm goes off. You flick it off, stretch, yawn, and get dressed. You throw on your brand new Gucci underwear and open the blinds. It’s beautiful outside, sunny without being balmy.
It’s either a) your day off, b) the weekend, or c) you don’t have a job.
Either way, the weather is nice and you have no immediate obligations. Let’s go!
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Posted in Trey Kerby, Aaron Matthews, Summer Jamz | 6 Comments »
July 3rd, 2009
Despite being decades removed from any significant commercial success, Michael Jackson was omnipresent at my elementary school. See, I went to a Jewish private school and thus attended a staggering number of Bar and Bat-Mitzvah’s (many of them catered by Pickle Barrel, ‘natch).
If you had a bar or bat mitzvah party, there were a few pre-requisites: you had to have glow sticks, terrible chicken nuggets, virgin cocktails and you would always, always, always play Michael Jackson. “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”, “Blame It On The Boogie” and most importantly, “Billie Jean”. A pop song about avoiding paternity suits, recorded by the son of a steel mill worker, was and will continue to be ubiquitous at parties attended mostly by upper middle class 13-year old Jews.
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Posted in Michael Jackson Tribute, Aaron Matthews | No Comments »
June 26th, 2009
When he’s not contributing to Metal Lungies, Hip-Hop is Read, or lecturing oblivious Ottowans on the meaning of Parklife, Aaron Matthews can be found at Canned Thinking.
Yeah yeah, the Auteurs never completely fit into the Britpop-as-cultural movement narrative, but by mining 60s and 70s English rock, their debut New Wave divined the future of the genre. But first things first.
Luke Haines toiled in C86 act, The Servants, for several years prior to forming the Auteurs in 1990. After gigging in and around London for a couple years, they got a deal with Hut Records. Their aforementioned debut saw the light of day in 1993, the same year of the dissolution of Madchester pioneers the Happy Mondays, the same year Oasis signed to Creation, the same year Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson died, the same year Sleepless in Seattle taught us how to love.
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Posted in Popscene, Aaron Matthews | 3 Comments »
May 6th, 2009
Written by Aaron Matthews, Popscene is an attempt to re-examine records from the glory years of Britpop, specfically, ones that haven’t been analyzed to death by the North American press. If you’re looking for “Definitely Maybe,” the answer is “no.”
Super Furry Animals are either the best or worst starting point for discussing Britpop. Halilng from Cardiff, Wales, they spent quality time toiling in Welsh-language bands prior to forming SFA in 1993. Since then, they have released two Welsh language EPs, including 1995’s Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (In Space) and Moog Droog.
Following the release of those EPs, the band starting writing songs in English after being inspired by a tight-trousered, Tom Jones, bronze memorial (probably) and a desire to make their music more accessible (true). In 1995, after a gig in London–only their second, outside of Wales- Creation Records head, Alan McGee, signed SFA to his label, the one-time home of Primal Scream, Jesus and the Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, and Oasis.
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Posted in Popscene, Aaron Matthews | 5 Comments »
February 10th, 2009
When not shouting, “BROWNSVILLE, HOME OF THE BRAVE,” at high decibel levels, Aaron Matthews writes about hip hop, movies, and videogames at Canned Thinking. He also contributes to Metal Lungies, and Hip Hop Is Read.
There are two things you need to know about M.O.P.
1. M.O.P. are always angry.
2. During their brief tenure on Roc-A-Fella Records, the pair recorded an album entitled Kill Nigga Die Slo Bluckka Bluckka Bloaoow Blood Sweat Tears and We Out.
Let’s take a slide through the ill side of town.
1. Lil’ Fame, “Face Off 2k1″, Warriorz:
Niggaz ain’t feelin the Fame bitch? Stop dreamin’/I’m the shit that felt good comin’ out of my pop’s semen.
Why it’s Great: There is no possible scenario where Fame can imagine someone not feeling him. Accordingly, when a prenatal Jamal Grinnage was released from his father’s semen, his pops experienced pleasure. (Matthews)
Ranking:
2. Lil’ Fame, “1/2 & ½”, Gang Starr ft.M.O.P.
“Here comes the revolutionist/executionist/flip a triple 6 into three 9’s/cause a crucifix”
Why It’s Great: Fame gets his Noah Webster on and invents the word, “executionist.” Couplet gets bonus points for possibly veiled Crispus Attucks reference. Very veiled. Related note: why has there not been a rapper named Crispus Attacks? (Weiss)
Ranking:
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Posted in Aaron Matthews, Best Of | 22 Comments »
