September 22nd, 2009
Due to a combination of serendipitous circumstance and a Snake Plisskin need to escape from LA, I have decamped to San Francisco for the next six weeks. My mission is to prowl the Fillmore for the ghost of Andre Nickatina, uncover the secret location of Rappin’ 4-Tay’s Playaz Club across the water in the “Biggiddy Biggidy Bay,” and uncover why Messy Marv is in fact, so messy. In an auspicious omen, People Under the Stair’s “San Francisco Knights” came on my iPod shuffle right as I crossed the city limits last night. Hopefully, Thes and Double K’s premonition of blunts, broads, and beats will ring true.
Until I get acclimated to the fog and wind and survive a few looming deadlines, posting in these parts might be a bit lighter than usual. In the interim, here are a few songs that soundtracked my ride up. Any tips on restaurants, shows, and spots to cop the Ball St. Journal are warmly welcomed.
MP3: Andre Nickatina-”Ghost of Fillmoe”
MP3: People Under the Stairs-”San Francisco Knights”
MP3: DJ Quik-”I Don’t Want to Party With You”
MP3: Rappin 4-Tay-”Playaz Club”
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August 27th, 2009
According to the esteemed Drunkard:
“WEIRD SUMMER” was created exclusively to get you through those last few incredibly sticky days of the hottest god damn summer you can remember. Fuel for the fire. Grab that boom box, hit the beach, and turn up the volume. Best served before 9.21.2009. Mucho take it easy. - MB
This is one of the finest mixes I’ve heard all season. Otis Redding, Love, Javelin, Akron/Family, Os Mutantes, et. al. Do I need to really say anymore? Get weird, turn pro.
Tracklist below the jump.
Download:
MP3: Mondo Boys :: Weird Summer (58 minutes, 79.3 MB, 192 kbps)
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July 17th, 2009
I was offered the chance to see Amadou & Miriam open for Coldplay tomorrow night. While the former rank among my favorite blind Malian husband and wife duos ever (just below the Blind Boys of Bamako, just ahead of the Timbuktu Two-Steppers), I’ll be heading to Beach Dazed instead. Partially, because I don’t think I can handle the emetic sororo-crowds that clot for Coldplay, partially because I am a sucker for any place that promises performances from Voxtrot, Busdriver, RJD2, Korean BBQ, Slip-N-Slides, and free ice cream. I am a simple man. I wrote a preview for Pop and Hiss, which is likely superfluous for this crowd, but you never know.
Thanks to the FMLY and The Tape for putting this thing on, and for putting up the Beach Dazed playlist that you can snag after the jump.
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June 25th, 2009
If M.J. wasn’t better than Prince, he’s the closest one. Expect a tribute to the late G.O.A.T. sometime next week. In the meantime, the second greatest music video he ever made (”Thriller” up top, obviously). The only consolation is that now Tito will finally get his chance to shine.
Download
MP3: Michael Jackson-”Remember the Time”
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March 5th, 2009
If you’re curious to find out how to lead the Moet & Beluga Caviar lifestyle, that is the world of pro music journalism, circa 09, I’ll be a part of panel tonight on “Writing About Music,”at the Echo Park 826LA outpost.
Luckily, I’ll be surrounded by people who actually know how to use a comma: Randall Roberts, my editor at LA Weekly, Kevin Bronson of Buzz Bands (and formerly of the LA Times), and Justin “Aquarium Drunkard” Gage. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting the other three panelists, Jessica Hundley, Josh Kun, and Pat McGuire, but their resumes are airtight. I assume they even understand how to properly use a semi-colon.
The price is steep: $25. Granted, I wouldn’t fork over the $4.17 that is technically what you’d be paying to see me, but it’s for a good cause. I swear. It starts at 7:30. More info can be found here. I’ll be the one in Zubaz pants. They’re like “wearing pajamas 24-hours a day.”
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December 8th, 2008
As the more observant may have noticed, I’ve made roughly two dozen new additions to the blogroll on the right–in addition to several other adds on the more comprehensive links page. Other than the stuff I throw in the Google Reader Icon that I’m convinced no one reads, I regretfully share the wealth far too little. So consider this post an attempt to pay penance for the link languor,
While all the latest sites get my much-sought after endorsement (next time you’re looking for 304 more votes, come to me, Franken), I’d like to shout out a few specifically. Forgive me if it ends up sounding like the unlistenable “outro” litany on Food and Liquor, where Lupe gives props to everyone who ever said “bless you” after a sneeze.
- 17 Dots: The official blog of my sometime employers eMusic, who help keep me from subsisting entirely off ramen and thus, earn the “Roc Boys Award” (i.e. the most important person next to LA Weekly, with all due respect)
- People’s History of Hip-Hop: The new blog from Oh Word wordsmith, Abe “Jim” Beame.
- Basement Elevation: A blog from local Vibe scribe, Jason Parham.
- Buzz Bands: From good friend and excellent, age-defying short-shop, Kevin Bronson. A revival of the much-missed Buzz Bands column that ran in the LA Times until earlier this year, Buzz Bands is essential reading for any Angeleno curious what’s going on in this sun-stunned city.
- Chaos Out of Order: A sports, pop culture, and politics blog from Matthew Bilinsky, whom I have known since I was three years old. Its tagline reads”where megalomania meets heart and soul.” Appropriate.
- Elitaste: Blog of Wale manager and all-around-music guru, Daniel Weisman, whose name, for once, will be spelled properly (the extra “s” adds panache…just saying).
- Fake Shore Drive: The encyclopedia on all things Windy City.
- Hip-Hop Is Read: Crate-digging, must read blog from Ivan, my fellow Hip Hop heeb from the city of Angels.
- Hipster Runoff: Funniest blog around. Bar none.
- Hurt You Bad: Best graf site I’ve read in many moons.
- LaundroMatinee: Very cool new video blog specializing in exclusive recording sessions, brought to you by the great Dodge of My Old Kentucky Blog.
- Lyrics to Go: John Q’s successful attempt to make me buy an external drive.
- Major League Jerk: Acerbic, sports-obsessed and jerky. Real recognize real.
- Pay Tray: Look Tray, I’m going to send you traffic. In return, start liking things that aren’t Rick Ross.
- Slav is My Name: Vibe and (ex?) Source contributer, Slav and I go back like M. McFly in a Mr. Fusion-powered DeLorean.
- Smoking Section: Between SS, The Rap Up, and Nah Right, you could become an expert on contemporary hip-hop in three weeks flat. Which, in a way, explains the Internet.
- T.R.O.Y: Spun out of the Phila Flava forums. In just four months, these dudes are hands down, 2008’s blog R.O.Y.
- Tinyluckygenius: Chicago Reader and Chicago Tribune writer, Jessica Hopper, ponders life’s pressing questions–like why wasn’t “Ya’ Mama’s on Crack Rock” a bigger hit?
- Whatevs: Uncle Grambo’s back, in Tumblr form.
And I’m spent.
Download:
MP3: Nas-”Made You Look”
MP3: David Bowie-”Changes”
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November 25th, 2008
I’d have been inclined to post on Confessions of a Would-Be Hipsters’ new compilation off blog name alone, but when I found out that the proceeds would benefit Los Angeles’ longest-running homeless shelter, The Midnight Mission, it was a no-brainer.
Available for $10 digital purchase at E-Junkie, the album features exclusive original holiday songs from such local favorites as Earlimart, The Monolators, Great Northern, Princeton and recent Asthmatic Kitty signees, Fol Chen.
More info about the compilation and a complete tracklisting can be found here.
Download:
MP3: Let’s Go Sailing-”Icicles (Plastic Snow Session)”
* * *
While I’ve got you on the line, thought I might also share the above video from New York’s The Sniper Twins. I tend not to ride for anything remotely resembling white people ironic rap, save for unreleased Passion of the Weiss classic “Ain’t Nuthin’ But a Hipster Party.” Granted, there’s probably something a bit too Samberg-esque about “Stack the Memory,” but it made me laugh when I was sober. So, there’s that.
Posted in Miscellany, News | No Comments »
November 24th, 2008
In what might be my favorite move of the entire Bush presidency, George Bush has commuted the sentence of Refugee Camp All Star, John Forte, in the nick of time for the Ten Years-Gone-Remember Me-Version of “Ninety-Nine.” Apparently, the team of Orrin Hatch (?) and Carly Simon (??) were Forte’s most staunch advocates.
Little known fact: Forte is Phillips Exeter’s most hard body alumni since Ulysses S. Grant Jr.
Question to ponder: Does this mean Shyne is fuming in his cell?
Download:
MP3: John Forte-”Ninety Nine (Flash the Message)”
MP3 Fugees ft. Outsidaz & John Forte-”Cowboys”
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November 22nd, 2008
Que lastima. First the auto industry, then the massacre to Penn St, and now this–it’s been a rough week for the state of Michigan.
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November 20th, 2008
I’m not normally into the shameless shill thing–other than the rare occasions when I’ve inveigled readers into nominating me for the much sought after Chancellor of the Confederated Islands of Micronesia position. Thanks for nothing, guys. However, this morning, Stereogum sent me an e-mail purporting that The Passion is a “top contender” for Best Music Blog in their annual Gummy Awards. God knows how many other bloggers received this e-mail–I haven’t checked my RSS today and imagine that half the web has already posted something similar. If so, congratulations Stereogum, on your elaborate ruse. Well played.
According to said e-mail, I’m supposed to send my readers over to The Gummy Awards voting site and tell you to vote for me. I’m also supposed to inform you that the polls are open now through 6 pm EST, 12/2/08. And that everyone who submits has a chance to win the top 50 CDs, as determined by the poll results, and a year’s subscription to Netflix.
So if you’re bored at work and have nothing better to do, I’d appreciate your support. Most of all, I’d like to thank you, the reader, for turning this site into the esteemed position it currently holds: Google’s 7th Most Popular Site for Weimar-era Germany snuff films. With your ongoing support, I know we can crack the top 5.
Download:
MP3: Ultramagnetic MC’s-”Ego Trippin”
MP3: De La Soul-”Ego Trippin’ (Part Two)”
Posted in News | 6 Comments »
