Adolph don't dance.

It's been a while since House Music Friday has featured a proper vocal. Let's fix that...



Alexi Delano... born in Chile, raised in Sweden, lives in New York (that sounds like fun, huh?)... has been around both the world and the scene for quite some time, making fine House and Techno musics for a good 15 years now. Here's probably my favorite track of his... out of the ones I've heard, of course... because I really haven't been able to form an opinion on the ones I haven't. I know that doesn't stop some people, but I am NOT SOME PEOPLE...

ADNY - Life (ft. Doreen Youngblood) (ysi)

Sorry for the all caps there. Had a bit of a seizure. Anyhoo, bonus points for that one if you like congas. But really, who doesn't like congas? Oh wait, I know who. Hitler. Have a great weekend...

Everything's all 'asploded...

So... last week something quite apocalyptic happened. The library file in my iTunes got raped by drunken gremlins fatally corrupted. What that means is it has to be rebuilt, manually. This is a process which will hopefully be finished by... well, I hope it's finished before 2012 comes and I'm fleeing for some big spaceship with John Cusack. The result of this is that you will see a certain alphabetical progression to the bands picked by the shuffle over the next few million posts or so. Starting with the numbers, no less...



3 Foot People is one of the many aliases of the man also know as Freddie Cruger or Red Astaire, a maker of many funky beats for feets. On this one, he gets his skank on with the help of Reggae singer Desmond Foster who must be pretty easy to spot in a crowd in Sweden. Just sayin'...

3 Foot People - Simply Fresh (ft. Desmond Foster (ysi)

I am kinda stoked for that movie though, especially the part where L.A. literally falls into the ocean...



I hope I'm out of town when that really happens... :P

In praise of Ramshacklelacrity

Super-obscure Afro-Funk? You got it!



Like Mr. Burns, I'm a big fan of old-timey sayings and words. Like "ramshackle". What an awesome word that nobody ever uses. But it's a word that describes a quality of African Funk that I've decided is one of the reasons I'm so into it. Some of these recordings are pretty darn ramshackle. These people weren't glossy pros working in fancy studios with all sorts of high-falutin' doo-dads and thingamajigs. They didn't have the luxury of digital editing, mulitrack flim-flammery and other assorted studio witchcraft. Nope, they just had their band, maybe one mic and one of them recording doohickeys. They went in, they played their song and Bob's yer uncle. But the rawness, the RAMSHACKLENESS of these recordings is what makes them so pure and raw and awesome... and funky as all git out. Like this joint by lesser known Nigerian artist Segun Bucknor. Dig it...

Segun Bucknor - Dye Dye (ysi)

Pretty much played live, ya know? Imperfections all over the place, ya dig? And quite amazing, ya heard?

Bizarre Beats and Gratuitous Profanity

Here's some very out there shit for you...



I don't think I've ever had a harder time trying to figure out the tag for a post than I have with this Dorian Concept record here. It's that fuckin' out there. So naturally I settled on IDM, because I am lazy and will use meaningless genre terms despite my rant yesterday. I'm a bundle of contradictions wrapped inside a paradox and shoved up a ferret's ass. Yes, this record is as weird as that last sentence. And kinda amazing. It's a young kid from Austria (Yep, I'm old enough to call 24-year-olds kids. Pass the Geritol!) who can program the shit out of some shit, let me tell ya. To wit...

Dorian Concept - Color Sexist (ysi)

BUT! It turns out the guy is also a borderline amazing keyboard player, too. Peep this live vid in a much more organic, jazzy vibe...



Sorry about the two minutes of dudes speaking German in the middle. Um, well I'm not sorry to Germans, obviously, but to everyone else...

Return of the Crank

So yeah, I took another week off without mentioning it beforehand. Sorry 'bout that. Let's just forget it ever happened, 'kay?

(I hope no one sees me eating this hot dog while blogging... mmmmmm, mustard...)



Some people refer to Chicago band Tortoise "post-rock", but that is about the single stupidest term for a made-up genre of music that I have ever heard. Seriously, what the fuck is that supposed to mean? "After" Rock? Then that would encompass, I dunno, everything that came after Rock, except that we still have Rock, so how can there be a "post" yet. Seriously, don't ever use that term around me. I'll cut you. I'll cut you bad. Anyhoo, Tortoise are a bit unclassifiable... and there's nothing wrong with that. They play instrumental stuff, some of which is more Rock-y and some of which is more funky. We, of course, like them best when they are funky. To wit...

Tortoise - Gigantes (ysi)

See, I always come back good 'n' ornery after a week off. I'll just throw in a "Fuck Animal Collective" while I'm at it. That always feels good...

She said, "Eat it!"...

All I gotta say is the type of parents who would name their kid Falcon... you know what I mean? Anyhoo...



Here's another one of those house tracks with a whole bunch of people involved... first we have Marshall Jefferson, the "Godfather of House" representing Chicago. He's the one doing the talking. Then we have Noosa Heads, a couple of German Techno heads, on the beats. Finally Salt City Orchestra, a team of Brits largely responsible for much of Paper Recordings output, on the remix. It all adds up to a bona fide House classic...

Marshall Jefferson vs. Noosa Heads - Mushrooms (Salt City Orchestra Remix) (ysi)

Unfortunately all of my jokes are in a ballon flying 7,000 feet above Denver right now.... have a great weekend...

Lenny Kravitz, Hired Dick

Here's a nice random one for ya...



Long before she was the unofficial Mrs. Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis was getting boned for a while by Lenny Kravitz. What, too crude? Look, he was still married to Lisa Bonet at the time... therefore I think it's fair to classify it as boning, although the judges also would have accepted "banging", "porking" and "launching his beef rocket into". Anyhoo, he also produced a music album for her and it was surprisingly good. Lenny wrote his bone-muffin some nice, "retro"-styled Pop songs (Lenny Kravitz retro? Geddafuckaouddahere!) but it's the "Future Song" that's my fave... see what I did there?

Vanessa Paradis - The Future Song (ysi)

Now although this album represents the beginning and end of my knowledge of Vanessa Paradis' musical career, apparently it's been quite prolific... to the point that she has a "Greatest Hits" album coming out soon that I won't be purchasing. Who knew? Lenny Kravitz, of course went on to bone several other women, none of whom have any albums of any kind due ever... except for Kylie Minogue... and Natalie Imbruglia... and most likely Madonna... and damn, Lenny, maybe I should have titled the post "tired dick"...

No explanation necessary...

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I don't, in general, rock. But at the same time...



... I'm sure we can all agree that Jimi rules...

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Wait Until Tomorrow (ysi)

What, you needed a write up on this one?

An Xcellent Edit

Here's a track that I've been bumping in the Scion on repeat all week...



So, this is a pretty groovy compilation from the Nuphonic label (R.I.P.)... it's a collection of licensed tracks corresponding to a club night/radio show the label put on. So instead of the Nuphonic regulars you get tracks from Bjork, Groove Armada, David Holmes, Coldcut... and this absolutely fucking monster rework by the lovably crusty DJ Harvey, who my name-dropping ass actually opened for once or twice. The original, by relatively obscure Oregon funk band Pleasure is a nice jam, but this is 10 minutes of funk madness...

Pleasure - Joyous (DJ Harvey Re-Edit) (ysi)

Damn, I'm all sweaty just from listening to that... what, too much information? Anyhoo, you can pick up the comp on Amazon for less than a buck or the vinyl for about $100, so you make the call...

Rainy days and Mondays... I'm totally okay with 'em.

I love an overcast morning in Los Angeles. Such a welcome reprieve after a nuclear-hot September...



And some gray skies make for mellow tunes, so here's a really, really... no, really... really laid-back joint from Bobby Hutcherson. Now, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that vibes are the coolest instrument to say that you play. To wit, next time someone asks you what you do, you say, "I play vibes, man" and watch how fucking cool that person instantly thinks you are. They'll probably offer you sex. Don't believe me? That's your problem...

Bobby Hutcherson - Montara (ysi)

You may also want to look for the Madlib remix of this... it ain't hard to find. I hear it might even rain tomorrow... sweet...

Who does this Obama guy think he is, anyway?

I'm a bit irritated right now at the amazing amount of douchebaggery being directed toward Pres. Obama's winning of the Nobel Peace Prize. Some dudes in Sweden wanna give the guy an award for at least fucking trying to get people to stop killing each other, and now he's an asshole for it? I forget who wrote this morning that at this point the guy could cure cancer and the Republicans would tear him apart for putting all those cancer treatment people out of work. To paraphrase the genius George Carlin... fuck the Republicans. Fuck 'em in the ass with a big rubber dick. Anyhoo, House Music Friday...



So a friend of mine hipped me on this Joris Voorn cat last weekend... a new-ish Dutch producer that makes some real clean and crispy Tech House. And me likey...

Joris Voorn - Chase The Mouse (ysi)

I imagine the only Republicans in the Netherlands are the U.S. tourists who do mushrooms and end up falling into the canals and drowning. USA! Have a great weekend...

They had rap when you were in college?

I'm rather enjoying the amount of Hip-Hop classics that have been popping up in the shuffle lately...



I would like to think that Biz Markie needs no introduction, but as I've been reminded more and more lately when my references draw nothing but quizzical stares from my younger co-workers (as if to say, "What are you talking about grandpa? Here, have some Metamucil while you wait for your death panel appointment")... music that came out when I was in college might as well be classified as Oldies now. But you know what? Biz Markie needs no introduction, so suck on that...

Biz Markie - I Hear Music (ysi)

BUT! I think one thing that even old fucks like myself might forget is that Biz started out being known as a beatboxer...



When you're old school, you don't even need to stand up... now get off my lawn!

Obscure name droppin'

I may be a loser, but a least I know some cool people...



Woolfy is the band of my pal Simon James, a Scottish cat whose family runs the coolest pub in Canoga Park. But they don't just play there (although I'm sure they have). Their record got picked up by DFA and last time I ran into him he was about to embark on a European tour playing with The Juan McLean. So yeah, it's working out pretty well for ol' Simon, I must say. This is probably because it's really good shit... on that Cosmic/Balearic tip halfway between House and Rock. Some of them have vocals, but this one doesn't...

Woolfy - Loa The Disco (ysi)

Simon also has a project called Projections, more electronica-based, that put out a really fine record on Guidance a few years back. PLUS, there's the Woolfy vs. Projections record, in which his two personalities fight it out. Anyhoo, here's some video from that tour I was telling you about...



Looks like fun, touring... who wants me to come DJ in their city?!

...

...

(crickets)

Tony Romo is bad at football

If I were the self-indulgent type, I'd take this space to piss and moan about my terrible showing in NFL Pick 'Em this week and suggest that both Tony Romo and Mark Clayton be raped by caribou, skinned alive and dipped into cauldrons of boiling urine. But you don't know who those people are and besides... that's so unlike me! I'm a unicorns and rainbows kinda guy...



Anyhoo, people who do not deserve to die a horrible painful death include TM Juke & The Jack Baker Trio. Mr. Juke, we've met before and Mr. Baker (Yep, it's just one guy. Perhaps he has a split personality?) plays with the Bonobo live band. Apparently they were touring together with Alice Russell and knocked out this album, because that's what people do when they're talented and shit. Vocals by the gal from Belleruche, whom you also love...

TM Juke & The Jack Baker Trio - Rolling Stone To A Landslide (ysi)

Yup, just some tossed off side project. Not too shabby. I mean, Tony Romo can't even do his primary job properly, the useless prick...

I'm totally phoning this one in...

Having no original ideas on this House Music Friday, I'm going back to the well of shameless self-promotion today. But first...



Hey looksee, it's a big, fat, new compilation from the always solid NRK label. Kind of a darker and tech-ier sound than I'm used to from these guys, but nice nonetheless. This Peace Division track is a standout...

Peace Division - Eh Oh Um (ysi)

Nice track, but where's the funny? Oh, here it is...



I'm the one in the grass skirt, by the way... Have a great weekend, Interwebs...

(Nice effort, me)

A band you may have heard of...

Even when you tell the record industry to fuck off, they still have ways to make money offa yer ass...



I've said before that I don't particularly feel the need to post on Radiohead so much even though they are by far my favorite band... I figure, oh, every other blog in the world has them covered quite nicely. BUT the shuffle just so happened to land on a sweet rarity from one of the recent record company cash-grabs reissues that I couldn't pass up. Now, let me get one thing clear... I did not go out like a Beatles fan and buy the same songs AGAIN because I'm stupid. No, I did the smart thing and cruised the Interweb tubes, trolling the bonus discs to see if there was anything I for some reason didn't have. And sure enough, um... there was. I have no idea how this one slipped by me, considering how much heterosexual man-love I have for Fila Brazillia as remixers, and I can't be arsed to hunt down the background info, so just dig it as the FB boys turn this one into a heavy, heavy dub experience...

Radiohead - Climbing Up The Walls (Fila Brazillia Remix) (ysi)

And here's the originoo, live from Glasto 2003, because fuck yeah...



Okay, back to being purposely obscure tomorrow, I promise...