Friday Music

I’m not even going to apologize for this, they way I did the last time I posted a track from Christina Aguilera’s new album, Back To Basics. I’ve now heard another, and DAMN if it isn’t really fucking cool. As anyone who has seen this month’s cover of Rolling Stone can attest, she’s decided to embrace the whole Boogie-Woogie Bugle-Boy thing, and it’s HOT. Check this neo-retro: Christina Aguilera – “Candyman.” I absolutely love the whole 30s-40s retro sound mixed with modern, blatantly sexual lyrics: “He’s a one-stop shop, Makes the panties drop…he’s a sweet-talkin’ sugar-coated Candyman…”

A special selection for and the girls, getting into character for tonight’s KCRF media party: Space – “Female of the Species.”

Japanese turntablist/electronic musician DJ Krush has a new two-disc career retrospective out, where he again plays with expectations. Instead of releasing a “best of” collection, he instead releases two discs of his older material, but each track is a brand-new remix. This track is absolutely brilliant, and features the incomparable Mos Def on vocals: DJ Krush feat. Mos Def – “Shinjiro (Harsh Mix)”

Sticking with the Japanese for a moment, here’s a track for , although I’m sure others will enjoy it as well. Generally speaking, I’m not a huge fan of J-Pop…I find most of it to be fairly formulaic and kinda annoying. I really liked this when I heard it, though, so I figured that I’d pass it along. BeForU – “Scenario.”

Because sometimes, I just need to hear it: My favorite track by one of my favorite bands. The English Beat – “I Confess.”

I found another really well-done Mash-up this week. A DJ who calls himself Arty Fufkin (which was the name of Paul Shaeffer’s incompetent label-promotions guy in “Spinal Tap”) has mixed Supertramp’s “Logical Song” with Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”, adding bits of Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” and The Who’s “Go To The Mirror, Boy”, and the results are wonderful: Arty Fufkin – “Crazy Logic.”

I was introduced to Shivaree by the inclusion of their track “Goodnight Moon” on the Kill Bill soundtrack. This is another track by them, and is equally nifty. Shivaree – “Thundercats.”

My favorite track from Rufus Wainwright’s Want One album, which is constructed around the main hook from Ravel’s Bolero. I’m fairly sure I may have posted this one before, but I don’t care — It’s that good. Rufus Wainwright – “Oh What A World.”

Lastly, more of Le Hip-Hop Francais, pour . I know nothing about the group, and haven’t sat down and listened closely enough to the lyrics to translate them….Mostly because once the track really gets moving, I’m too busy bobbing my head and moving my ass to care what they’re talking about. 113 – “36 Quai Des Orfevres.”

Enjoy, kids. More next week.