It’s been ages since I’ve done one of these, and I’d like to get back in the habit.
For those of you who are new to the blog, Friday Music is a weekly series that I started in February 2005, which ran semi-regularly for a VERY long time. It is a weekly “Mixtape of The Internets”, where I post links to various songs that I’ve stumbled across in my meandering through various music blogs and such. I’m proud to say that it has resulted in a lot of people being introduced to a lot of good stuff, if the comments that I still get from time to time are any indication. Over the course of 2010/2011, I posted it less and less frequently, mostly because I wasn’t doing nearly as much crawling around music blogs. The last few were barely on a monthly schedule, and the last one was back in November.
So I’m giving it another go. This week’s entry:
The picture up there at the left is the Nashville-based Americana/Folk/Country duo, The Civil Wars, who are getting quite a buzz of late, winning Grammys and getting rave reviews from folks like Adele, who has called them the best live act in the world. This piece, the title track from their 2011 album, is a great piece of edgy folk harmony that currently sits in my FAR WEST playlist. The Civil Wars – “Barton Hollow.”
I was depressed to learn that Jun Seba, groundbreaking Japanese hip hop producer and DJ, who recorded under the name Nujabes, died in a car accident at the end of February. He was only 36. He’s probably best known in the US for his soundtrack work for the anime series Samurai Champloo (which was how I first heard him). Here’s a great track (with his Champloo collaborator, Shing02) which stands as a testament to his ability: Nujabes – “Luv (Sic) Part 3 (feat. Shing02)”
A friend of mine posted the video to this song on Facebook last month, and it was a total revelation for me. I literally had not thought of this song since the year of its release (back in 1987). I had absolutely loved this song, and then had completely forgotten about it. Hearing it again was like a door opening in my mind. Basia – “Time & Tide.”
Sticking with the nostalgia vibe for a moment longer, here’s a track from the musty back bins of the mid-90s. A nice little swing-jazz-hip-hop pop confection. The performer went on to become a hit songwriter for acts ranging from Britney Spears to Cee-Lo Green to The Pussycat Dolls. Lucas – “Lucas With The Lid Off.”
One of my favorite tracks from the soundtrack to my favorite console game, FIFA12. I’m a sucker for good dance music and synthpop, so this remix is, as the marketing douches say, “right in my wheelhouse.” Monarchy – “The Phoenix Alive (Kris Menace Remix).”
…and we’ll close out on another remix: One of my favorites, in fact. NSFW for lyrics. Notorious B.I.G. – “Party and Bullshit (Ratatat Remix).”
There ya go. Enjoy. If you have problems with any of the links, try copy-and-pasting. If you like what you hear, go buy the albums.
See you next week with more.
