Category: Music

So, naturally, I’m nearly done finishing this week’s entry, and I accidentally close the wrong window, deleting the whole fucking thing. ARGH.

Anyway, here goes again: More obscure tracks this time, in an effort to try to get back to the original concept of Friday Music (sharing stuff that you might not have heard).

First up, a cover of a classic James Brown tune by Middle Eastern vocalist Natacha Atlas. I first became aware of her via her cover of “You Only Live Twice” on David Arnold’s Bond remix album. She uses Arabic scales in her vocals, which, when mixed with western music, is haunting. Natacha Atlas – “This is a Man’s World.”

Here is some electronic-pop that I’ve discovered recently: Tiger Baby – “Shy”–not sure what to write about this. I haven’t completely nailed down what I like about it yet, other than the fact that I do. I think that it reminds me a bit of the sort of thing played over the end credits of Queer As Folk, which was mentioning last night.

I don’t think I’ve given this one to you yet…my favorite track from Welsh singer/songwriter Jem. She reminds me a bit of Dido, but I like her sampling choices a bit better. Such as this track: Jem – “They,” which includes what I can only assume is a snippet of a UK schoolyard chant.

Here’s an interesting track from the 80s which has more than a bit of relevance today. Funny how asshole Republican administrations have a certain string of commonality. Bruce Cockburn – “If I had a Rocket Launcher.” If you think of it in terms of the Middle East, rather than Central America, it’s depressing how little has changed in 20 years.

I’m a fan of certain kinds of hip-hop. Not the bling-bling, bitches-n-hoes, lowest common denominator crap that has passed for commercial hip-hop for the past decade or so, but rather the stuff with some inventiveness and musicality. I’m especially into the stuff with jazz-based hooks and vocals. Here’s a great example. Even if you “hate rap”, give this a listen. It might open your perceptions a bit as to what else is out there: K-OS – “Superstar.”

…and lastly, it’s been a while since I’ve plugged my own stuff, so here’s another of my “@nubis” tracks (this time inspired by a sample of dialog from Buckaroo Banzai–can’t go wrong with that.): @nubis – “8th Dimension.” Hope you like it.

There. Re-typed. Now if I can just get it entered without deleting it again……

Friday Music

So, naturally, I’m nearly done finishing this week’s entry, and I accidentally close the wrong window, deleting the whole fucking thing. ARGH.

Anyway, here goes again: More obscure tracks this time, in an effort to try to get back to the original concept of Friday Music (sharing stuff that you might not have heard).

First up, a cover of a classic James Brown tune by Middle Eastern vocalist Natacha Atlas. I first became aware of her via her cover of “You Only Live Twice” on David Arnold’s Bond remix album. She uses Arabic scales in her vocals, which, when mixed with western music, is haunting. Natacha Atlas – “This is a Man’s World.”

Here is some electronic-pop that I’ve discovered recently: Tiger Baby – “Shy”–not sure what to write about this. I haven’t completely nailed down what I like about it yet, other than the fact that I do. I think that it reminds me a bit of the sort of thing played over the end credits of Queer As Folk, which Yosa was mentioning last night.

I don’t think I’ve given this one to you yet…my favorite track from Welsh singer/songwriter Jem. She reminds me a bit of Dido, but I like her sampling choices a bit better. Such as this track: Jem – “They,” which includes what I can only assume is a snippet of a UK schoolyard chant.

Here’s an interesting track from the 80s which has more than a bit of relevance today. Funny how asshole Republican administrations have a certain string of commonality. Bruce Cockburn – “If I had a Rocket Launcher.” If you think of it in terms of the Middle East, rather than Central America, it’s depressing how little has changed in 20 years.

I’m a fan of certain kinds of hip-hop. Not the bling-bling, bitches-n-hoes, lowest common denominator crap that has passed for commercial hip-hop for the past decade or so, but rather the stuff with some inventiveness and musicality. I’m especially into the stuff with jazz-based hooks and vocals. Here’s a great example. Even if you “hate rap”, give this a listen. It might open your perceptions a bit as to what else is out there: K-OS – “Superstar.”

…and lastly, it’s been a while since I’ve plugged my own stuff, so here’s another of my “@nubis” tracks (this time inspired by a sample of dialog from Buckaroo Banzai–can’t go wrong with that.): @nubis – “8th Dimension.” Hope you like it.

There. Re-typed. Now if I can just get it entered without deleting it again……

Here we go again:

First up a track specifically for . This one is part of my “internal soundtrack” for NYC. The Pogues – “Fairytale of New York.”

…and for , inspired specifically by part of our conversation last evening, Adam & The Ants – “Beat My Guest.” I really did prefer the earlier, more punk (mixed with highwayman, pirates and indians) style of his work with the Ants, rather than the more pop stuff of his later solo work…..I liked stuff like “Strip” and “Goody Two Shoes”, but I liked this stuff better.

Now, we’ll take the Not-So-Wayback Machine into the swing revival of the 1990s, and one of my favorite groups from that movement, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. I had thought about putting one of their less-known album tracks up, but as I was listening to the album again, I realized that I still really liked the single, so here it is: Cherry Poppin’ Daddies – “Zoot Suit Riot”.

There has been a request (accompanied by a naughty icon and everything) for more music from the soundtrack to Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex, and so here’s another track featuring Origa, the singer from the “Inner Universe” song that I posted last. Another beautiful composition, too: Yoko Kanno (feat. Origa) – “Rise”

Visual Audio Sensory Theatre (or simply V.A.S.T.) is a gothy little project by John Crosby, one of David Crosby’s sons. This is my favorite track from the first album (I’m sure you’re recognize it, once the vocal sample from Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares kicks in about 45 seconds in). It starts with a nice little guitar-strummy verse, then the vocal sample hits, and by about a minute or so into the song, the heavy guitar and beat finally joins in, and I’m completely taken in. Nifty stuff. V.A.S.T. – “Touched.”

Another 90s track, this time from the Butthole Surfers. This was, I’m pretty sure, their biggest hit. Butthole Surfers – “Pepper.” I love the lyrics from the refrain: “I don’t mind the sun sometimes, the images it shows…I can taste you on my lips and smell you in my clothes.”

Lastly, I found another really amazing mash-up DJ. Most mash-ups are content to follow the “music from source A, vocals from source B” school of thought, but this guy is an overachiever, and it really shows. I’ll leave you with two of his tracks, with annotation. The first: Alex H – “Elephants On Parade (When Bolero Goes Down)” mixes Ravelle’s Bolero with “When the Shit Goes Down” by Cypress Hill, “Jump Around” by House of Pain, and, brilliantly, “Colonel Hathi’s March” from Disney’s The Jungle Book. Fucking AMAZING. The second: Alex H – “Imperial Bombaclaat” mixes John Williams’ “Imperial March” with Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”, a synthloop from Bentley Rhythm Ace, “Bombaclaat” by Elephant Man, “Clap Your Hands” by James Brown, “You Can’t Change Me” by Roger Sanchez, and Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. No shit. If you like Alex H’s stuff, check out his website, where you’ll find a bunch more.

…and another week down.