Visit your local library today!

... but just be careful if you use the computers. You don't know who was there last or what kind of German Shepherd bukkake movies they were watching, if you get my drift...



I think this very well be my first ever post of Library music. We're not talking about odes to the Dewey Decimal Code... we're talking '70s production Library music... tunes by the thousands made explicitly for anonymously dropping into TV or films because this car chase needs some pizazz! What someone eventually figured out is that there is a hell of a lot of this stuff out there and some of it is pretty damn good as these guys were making all sorts of funky instrumental tracks and were unafraid to get their freak on and experiment because why the hell not? It's just kicking it in the background while some dude with a cool moustache shoots some bad guys. Keyboardist Alan Hawkshaw is one of the guys who has become much more well known since the crate-diggers got their hands on him. Check out this funky organ groove, which I'm pretty sure has been sampled although I can't put my finger on it...

Alan Hawkshaw - Beat Me 'Til I'm Blue (ysi)

Tim "Love" Lee has been reissuing some of the more popular KPM titles on his Tummy Touch label, but be warned! This whole Library thing is yet one more musical rabbit hole to tumble down, so enter at your own risk...

I see your Schwarz is as big as mine...

This weeks House Music Friday shall be quick and dirty, like a handy J in a White Castle bathroom...



It's time for a nice bumpy low-fi chugger from German producer Henrik Schwarz, whom I don't know a heck of a lot about, but he did get his own edition in the legendary DJ Kicks series, which says something. He works with Ame and Dixon quite often, too. And I believe he is made of cheese, at least according to the internets. This one's a twelve-minute trip with a rather extended intro so just wait for it, yo...

Henrik Schwarz - Chicago (ysi)

Yaddayaddayadda Coachella yaddayadda. Word...

Some pun involving the word "break"

You know what you don't get during Blog-achella when we're being all current and hip and whatnot? Them classic Funk jawns...



That picture you are looking at is one of the Holy Grails of crate-digging, the one and only record by East Coast funk group Skull Snaps... which by the way, awesome band name. This one goes for hundreds on original vinyl (if you can find it) but has been reissued recently by our good friends the Japanese. Why is this record such a big deal? Because it is awesome and it contains one of the most-sampled breaks of all time. This is one of those songs that you've never heard yet you've been listening to it your whole life. Dig it...

Skull Snaps - It's A New Day (ysi)

Told ya. And by the way, that whosampled.com site is quite educational. Bookmark it and study up. There will be a quiz tomorrow...

I got a rocket. You're going on it. The. End.

Right about now is the time when, traditionally, I'd do an epic Blog-achella post going through the set times and giving you the minute-by-minute guide for whom to see this weekend, but quite frankly I can't be arsed this year. I've given you the ingredients, it's up to you to make the pie, kids...

Also, I've got two words for the new LCD Soundsystem record. Holy Shitgood. Wow. James Murphy is working his way toward the pantheon. Unfortunately, I can't give you a track from it, as it's not out for a month and that shit would get yanked down quicker than an altar boy's pants at the Vatican. Damn straight I went there. Just know it's out there, it's real and it's spectacular...

There are, however, some new releases that dropped whilst we were amidst the whole Blog-achella kerfuffle, some that I would be remiss not to share with you. So here's the first of those...



Remember when Goldfrapp put out their last album and it was all quiet and folky and whatnot? Like this? And you were all like, "Where's the dance-y bits?! Where's the diva-tude?! Where's the gay?!" Well, I'm here to tell you that all of those things are back like crazy on the new one. Head First blasts you right onto the '80s dancefloor of the future. (Shit, that's not a bad line. I'll have to write that down.) And yes, it's gay as all git-out. Feel the power, bitches!

(DMCA'd. Bitches.)

Lemme tell you right now... the rocket is located in my pants.

Anyhoo, the full Goldfrapp Revue is set to hit the Hollywood Bowl this summer, and that will be some goodness. Don't miss it. Unless, you know, you live really far from L.A. I mean, it'll be a good show but they're probably also playing somewhere closer to you on a different day and who wants to take unnecessary trips in this economy? Not me, I tells ya! That's for rich folk like Puff Daddy and the Shamwow guy...

I got no time for Soul if it ain't Ample...

You know, that whole Blog-achella thing really got in the way of my occasional blatant self-promotion... so now allow me to introduce you to my Soundcloud page. Original tunes by me (meh.) and a downloadable DJ mix you may have missed the first time around (woot.). Go check it out if you're on the Soundcloud... I'll mix it up a bit and post new things to download from time to time, exclusive-style. 'Cuz that's how I roll.



We've got a headnod-ical vibe today, courtesy of the prolific Fat Jon, the Ample Soul Physician, which is a nickname worth bonus points if ever there was one. Fat (that's what his friends call him) is a truly international dude... from Cincinnati, lives in Germany, big in Japan... is part of the group Five Deez which you also need to peep. And, um... I think he's fat, too. If you compared the sound to DJ Krush, I don't believe anyone would punch you in the face for it...

Fat Jon - Sarin (ysi)

Um, is that all for today? Yep, I think that's all for today. Well, then...

We now return you to your regularly scheduled funk.

Well, that Blog-achella thing sure was fun. Hope you all dug it, especially all of you from the Coachella message boards. Just a fantastic group of really open-minded folks there. And by that I mean a bunch of humorless douchebags whose music taste begins and ends on the "popular" page on Hype Machine. Sucks to be them. BUT HEY! Such negativity... that's not what Tonegents is about, is it? Nope, it's about nothin' but the good-good, the happy warm fuzzies and bunnies and kittens and unicorns and whatnot. And HOUSE MUSIC FRIDAY!



Well, except for the fact that this isn't quite a House tune. But he other three on the record are, though... SO CLOSE ENOUGH! Plus this is my favorite one. Actually there's been a lot of these "slow House" records popping up lately (think Floating Points, et. al...) and while the sound may not burn the dance floor up (unless you're doing Ambien with Tiger Woods), it's real nice to my ears. Peep Mr. Ali Gibbs, aka Nebraska...

Nebraska - The Other Side (ysi)

That vocal drop kills me. I'm thinking it sounds a bit like Johnny Mathis, but I'm probably not even in the ballpark. Googled that shit and came up with nada, once again proving that the Interwebs are good for exactly... fuck all.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Blog-achella X: Assorted Monkey Business

Bringin' it home, y'all! Let's get right to it...

First off, I'm gonna invite the Coachella Message Board hate by saying that I never gave a shit about Pavement and do not to this day... although I'll certainly give them credit for being the prototype for a million generic Indie bands to follow. I'm possibly more befuddled by the unjustified and continuous knob-slobbing of Pavement than I am by... well, just about anything. For reals, that shit is befuddling as fuck. And I was HUGE into the College Rock when Pavement came up. HUGE! Pavement are weak sauce smothered in fail gravy. AND THOSE ARE BOTH CONDIMENTS!

Anyhoo, this finally brings us to the last post of Blog-achella X (except for the Set Times & Recommendations/Conflict-fest/Teeth-gnash-apalooza next week, stay tuned!), and your Sunday headliner is going to indeed be freaking EPIC! Allow me to explain...

Gorillaz



Who they are: We all know who they are... but the even more exciting possibility is who will join them... Gorillaz gigs are a big deal, and they have been known to get everyone on the albums to join them for these things (check the vid below... Dennis Freakin' Hopper even showed up!). Just looking at the rest of the weekend's lineup shows us that De La Soul, Little Dragon & Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are already there. Bobby Womack has nothing better to do. Snoop, Mos Def, Del? Betcha a dollar. Lou Reed? Wouldn't rule it out. Oh, and Mick Jones & Paul Simenon of The Clash are in the band, playing together for the first time SINCE THEY WERE STILL IN THE FREAKING CLASH! See what I mean about epic?

What they sound like: We all know what they sound like and the new record is a real grower. But it's also been blogged by every blog in the blog-o-sphere. Blogblogblog. So, like the last post, I reached back for a dope-ass remix you may not have, also by another Coachella act. Dig it...

Gorillaz - Dare (Soulwax Remix) (ysi)

What I think: Probably won't suck. Probably will have ridiculously cool video component. Probably it will be EPIC! And here's a treat from the YouTubes... the entire Demon Days concert! WHATWHAT?



Yep, that's gonna be an amazing end to the weekend, but God help me... if this conflicts with Orbital, MY RAGE AND BLOODLUST WILL BE UNPARALLED! THE STREETS WILL RUN RED WITH THE BLOOD OF THE INFIDELS! For reals. So, time for the Sunday picks...

Top 5 For Sunday

1) Orbital
1A) Gorillaz
1B) Thom Yorke
2) Talvin Singh
3) De La Soul
4) Phoenix
5) Mayer Hawthorne

Underdog Pick of the Day - Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Yes, I realize there are 7 in my Top 5. My blog, bitches. My blog. Of course, as we mentioned, all of this prognosticating will most likely be at least somewhat shot to shit when the Set Times come out... and I will see you then with the last post of Blog-achella X. I hope you've enjoyed this year's version, but if you haven't...





Fin.

Blog-achella X: It's That Dude From That Band

And now, I present reason number two why Sunday, Sunday, Sunday is the day to go to Coachella. You'll buy the whole seat, BUT YOU'LL ONLY NEED THE EDGE!

Thom Yorke & Atoms For Peace



Who he is: The dude with the kooky eye from that band I can't quite remember the name of. Something about unicorns, I think...

What he sounds like: Well, Thom's album The Eraser is a very sparse electronic affair which also happens to be a couple years old. You've heard it plenty and already own it most likely so there's nothing for me to hip you to there... so here's a remix of the song that this current band is named after. Maybe you have this one, too, maybe you don't...

Thom Yorke - Atoms For Peace (Four Tet Remix) (ysi)

What I think: So that's what that sounds like. But from what I've read (like for instance here), the band... which consists of Thom, Flea, longtime Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich and a couple of other less interesting dudes... spices things up a bit. Now, I'm as dubious about Flea as the next guy, but seemingly once freed from the vortex of douchebaggery that is Anthony Kiedis and/or Perry Ferrell, he's still pretty good at music sometimes... check it out...



Lookit little Thommy get his groove on! Next thing you know, he's gonna be on Soul Train. Anyhoo, I rate this one a don't dare miss it... but you knew that. Tomorrow... the last post! Oh snap!

Blog-achella X: Sometimes you feel like a dick joke, sometimes you don't.

Okay, so apparently no one other than myself thought my April Fools post was funny enough to... you know, comment that they thought it was funny. Not suprised, because hey... it wasn't awesome... but at the same time, fuck all y'all.

Just kidding! I love you all very deeply yet in no way inappropriately, I assure you. And speaking of love, I'm gonna give some blog-love to a new Interwebs musical destination called 365 Days of Music. It is run by the mysterious and nefarious Marsupervisor, who is someone not to be trifled with in matters of musical knowledge. Plus maybe you prefer your mp3 bloggings with less f-bombs and dick jokes. I imagine it's possible. So bookmark, RSS, Twitter-fy and otherwise Web 2.0 your shit up to 365 Days of Music today, people! Do it!

So anyhoo, French guys at Coachella...

Phoenix



Who they are: The band with that song from the car commercial. You know, the catchy one. Well, that's how most people in the U.S. at least know them, and I say there's nothing wrong with that. Cuz guess what, America. You're gonna like this band long after the cars have been recalled/stolen/abandoned on the highway with a dead hooker in the trunk....

What they sound like: There's nothing terribly exotic about Phoenix. It's just real catchy, toe-tappin' guitar Pop done right... and even I can appreciate that when I hear it. Man cannot live on import Dubstep twelves alone! And today, I get to give you a real taste of what you're in for, as the boys have just released a short live set onto the Interweb Tubes... so here's that song from the car commmerical... LIVE!

Phoenix - 1901 (Live In Sydney) (ysi)

What I think: I really hope the schedule works out so that I can see these guys, because I like their music...



See, that last sentence would have had way more pop with a dick joke in there. But maybe that's just me...

Blog-achella X: Now With More Fucking Awesome

Almost every year, there have been big additions to the Coachella lineup well after the initial announcement... hell, right up to the week of the show. Daft Punk was a late add, as was Massive Attack. And a couple of little known acts named Madonna and Kanye West. So you always have to expect something wacky to happen... and this year is wackier than most, because now playing on Saturday night are...

KISS



Who they are: You wanted the best and you got the best! The hottest band in the world... KISS!

What they sound like: For all the makeup and the fireworks, the blood spitting and through-the-air-flying, KISS really just plays basic, catchy Rock & Roll that sticks in your head like a big, um... head sticking thing. You know way more of their songs than you're willing to admit, so DON'T FRONT, POSER! Also, they went Disco once because fuck that "Funkytown" shit...

Kiss - I Was Made For Lovin' You (ysi)

What I think: It's certainly causing some Indie kids' heads to explode over on the Coachella boards, but I support this 100%. Because fuck it, Coachella is about fun and say what you will about KISS... I've seen them in concert and they're kinda really fun. There. I said it. AND IT FEELS GOOD! CATHARSIS, BITCH! I mean, look at this...



Are you telling me you don't want to see that? You telling me you'd rather sit there stroking your beard to some beard-strokey shit? YOU LIE! YOU LIE OR YOU'RE IN DENIAL! Kiss is comin' to Coachella, bitches. Which makes the current scoreboard:

Gene Simmons: 1,000,000
You: 0

Deal with it.