January 21st, 2009
I don’t actually think the mixtape will save us all–promise. But discounting the obscene glut of product that has plagued us in the mixtape era, I do think it’s pretty win-win for artists and consumers. Particularly since rappers (and non-rappers) are stepping up their game and evolving beyond the simple arithmetic of written “freestyles” over recycled beats + otiose skits + a half-hearted 16-bar cameo from that R&B chick’s album. The article is part of the Voice’s Pazz & Jop’s package; you may have read it by now. There are other interesting articles too. In particular, I recommend Rob Harvilla on M.I.A. and Simon Reynolds on Vampire Weekend.
Posting (from me) will be a bit light until mid-next week, as I’m Bay-bound to visit friends, see Wooden Shjips, and re-enact the Sean Connery/Nicholas Cage epic, The Rock. Rest assured, there will be vulgar epigrams about prom queens a-plenty.
Village Voice-The Mixtape Will Save Us All
Download:
ZIP: Wale-The Mixtape About Nothing (Left-Click)
ZIP: Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit-The Very Best (Left-Click)
ZIP: Diplo & Santogold-Top Ranking (Left-Click)
Posted in Village Voice | 4 Comments »
January 7th, 2009
In what’s shaping up to be annual tradition, I trekked to New York City to catch My Morning Jacket’s New Year’s eve show (see 2007 edition). While this year may not have topped the astral peaks of their Fillmore stand, it was my favorite performance of recent vintage. I know a lot of people are down on the band after Evil Urges–and granted, the middle stretch of that record is problematic–but I’ll still ride for them as my favorite live band. So we may all just come to grips that the first week of every January, from here on out, will probably produce some hyperbolic testament to their greatness. Just be glad I don’t like Moe or String Cheese or something.
Props also to the great Scott Bernstein of Hidden Track for dubbing it.
Village Voice: Live-My Morning Jacket (12/31/08 @ Madison Square Garden)
Download:
MP3: My Morning Jacket-”Move On Up” (Curtis Mayfield Cover) (Left-Click)
MP3: My Morning Jacket-”Cold Sweat” (James Brown Cover)(Left-Click)
MP3: My Morning Jacket-”Dondante” (Left-Click)
ZIP: My Morning Jacket-”Live at Madison Square Garden (12/31/08)” (Left-Click)
Posted in Village Voice | 2 Comments »
July 23rd, 2008
The Hold Steady are one of the few contemporary bands whom I really consider myself a fan of. While I don’t think their latest, Stay Positive, hits the same rarefied heights as Separation Sunday or Boys and Girls in America, it remains another impressive effort from one of the best and most divisive groups in music. My review of the new record appears in this week’s Village Voice. Yes, it includes a guide to writing Hold Steady mad-libs.
Village Voice: Hold Steady-Stay Positive Review
Download:
MP3: The Hold Steady-”Sequestered In Memphis”
MP3: The Hold Steady-”Slapped Actress”
Posted in Village Voice | 2 Comments »
