Category: Music

Lots of good stuff this week.

Beautiful Small Things is a NYC duo which includes vocals by Bree Sharp (who recorded the cult track “David Duchovny” in 1999, which X-Files fans might remember). This is a brilliant bit of mid-tempo synthpop balladry, massively elevated into absolutely niftyhood by the fact that they managed to get harmonizing backing vocals by none other than Simon Fucking LeBon of Duran Duran. In fact, the inclusion of his voice makes this a VERY Duran-sounding piece, and makes me drool for the new album the guys are currently recording with Mark Ronson. Beautiful Small Things – “Simple Joys (feat. Simon LeBon).”

I was introduced to this earlier in the week by and I’m hooked. Another exploration of the retro sound by a current UK act — this one mixing the uptempo pop of early-60s girl groups with the raw edge of garage band guitars. They’ve got some great videos, too — check Youtube. The Noisettes – “Never Forget You.”

I was so busy this summer (moving Dotta Numba 2, turning 40, having The Minion back from college, prep for GenCon, attending GenCon, etc.) that I completely missed the fact that Kasabian released their 3rd album. I’ve been listening to it quite a bit this week after finally making the discovery — call it making up for lost time. The album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum is so good, I’ll share two tracks with you:

First, the opener, which treads familiar territory (very similar in feel to the chunk and bombast of their best-known single over here, “Club Foot”) – Kasabian – “Underdog.”

And the current single, the key changes and refrain vocals of which makes me think of it as something like a 21st-century Beatles song. I can’t really explain that, and maybe it’s just me. It’s grand, though. Kasabian – “Where Did All The Love Go?”

There’s also a brilliant duet with Rosario Dawson that I was tempted to also post — trust me, just go get this album.

Moving from there to hip-hop, here’s a really excellent Gnarls-Barkley-esque track which I heard while watching “So You Think You Can Dance” this week — the dancer was good, but the song was brilliant. Madcon – “Beggin’.”

We’ll close out with some modern Blues. First up, a track by Chicago bluesman Otis Taylor, used in the trailer for (and appearing on the soundtrack of) the Johnny Depp film about Dillinger, Public Enemies: Otis Taylor – “Ten Million Slaves.”

And lastly, an amazing version of a classic, which was featured in the first season finale of Sons of Anarchy (which, if you’re not watching, you should be — it’s on DVD now, and second season is airing now.) They just released a soundtrack EP with a handful of tracks, and I was thrilled to see that they included this: Curtis Stigers and the Forest Rangers – “John The Revelator.”

There you go. Enjoy.

Hey there.

A bunch of us went out for drinks with China Miéville last night, and the conversation ranged over a wide array of subjects. At one point, China was talking about Grime, the current Next Big Thing raging in London, so I figured I’d post some examples.

For those unfamiliar, Grime is a UK-specific brand of hip-hop that comes into the genre through electronic music (specifically Garage) and Caribbean Dancehall, rather than the US path of Soul and Funk.

Two artists specifically mentioned by China:

Wiley – “Wearing My Rolex.”

and

Dizzee Rascal – “Dance Wiv Me”

The track that I mentioned (which I’ve posted here before):

Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip – “Thou Shalt Always Kill.”

Moving on–

One of my favorite bands of my high school years, Echo & The Bunnymen, have a new album, The Fountain coming out in October. This is the first single, releasing next week. I’m not 100% sure how I feel about it yet. On the one hand, it definitely has the unique Echo sound, but on the other hand, Ian McCulloch’s vocal sounds… I don’t know. Like maybe he’s trying too hard? I’m not sure. Echo & The Bunnymen – “I Think I Need It Too.”

I’ve been playing the hell out of the new Muse album. I’ve already shared my favorite track (“United States of Eurasia”) and my second-favorite (the current single, “Uprising.”). This is my third. Muse – “Unnatural Selection.” I cannot get over how good this album is.

Lastly, a track from 2002 which is still one of my favorites — propelled forward by a great vocal from Kelis paired with a Theremin sample from “The Day The Earth Stood Still”: Timo Maas – “Help Me (feat. Kelis).”

There you go, kids. Enjoy.

I know, I know — long time.

I’ve been busy.

First off — it’s not downloadable, but if you’d like to listen to a stream, you can hear the entire new album from Muse, “The Resistance”, here. It’s phenominal — easily on my list of the best albums of the year.

Now, on to music of the downloadable variety: This little gem from Ice-T’s 1994 foray into hardcore, which caused right-wing apoplexy (and yet, never any protest over Eric Clapton doing “I Shot The Sherrif”… Hmm. I wonder why?). Still one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to, by the way. Body Count – “Cop Killer.”

The song that Quentin Tarantino rescued from “Cat People” — as he said, he couldn’t believe that they had this amazing Bowie song, and just stuck it over the credits. He said that if he had it, he’d have devoted an entire scene to it — which is exactly what he did in Inglorious Basterds, where it serves as Shoshanna’s internal monologue as she prepares herself for action: David Bowie – “Cat People (Putting Out Fire).”

A really cool bit of reggae/hip-hop hybrid by Bob Marley’s youngest son, discussing the difference between the Tourist Jamaica and the Real Jamaica: Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley – “Welcome to Jamrock.”

Heard this song on the local alternative station’s “Resurrection Sunday” — where they play Old Guy Alternative, ya know? I had forgotten how much I liked the group, and the song in particular. From 1987’s Happy?, Public Image Limited – “Seattle.”

This is probably my favorite track from Nine Inch Nails: Nine Inch Nails – “The Perfect Drug.”

I posted this ages ago, but it came up on my iPod’s shuffle this week, and I found that it greatly helped boost my energy, so I figured I’d post it again. Rockin’ out with a sample from Le Mystere de Voix Bulgaire, VAST – “Touched.”

Lastly, a request from Dotta Numba 2 — the multitalented Felicia Day and company. You’ve all seen the video by now. The Guild – “Do You Wanna Date My Avatar.”

There you are. Enjoy.