Category: Music

Here we go — another internet mixtape:

First, we have the Academy Award winner for best song, from Slumdog Millionaire — I’m really glad that Hindi music is getting some exposure here in the US. Cross-pollination is a good thing. A.R. Rahman – “Jai Ho.”

Courtesy of , a track from the NME magazine CD tribute to The Cure. A brilliant cover of my all-time favorite Cure song: The Dandy Warhols – “Primary.”

Ian Eagleson was pursing a doctorate in ethnomusicology, and studying abroad in Kenya. He ended up combining members and sounds from his Washington D.C. rock band ‘Golden’ and the Nairobi benga band ‘Orchestra Extra Solar Africa’ into a new group, Extra Golden. In 2007, then-Senator Obama managed to get them visas so they could tour the US, and they wrote a tribute song to him in Luo, the language of Obama’s Kenyan tribe. Really excellent stuff: Extra Golden – “Obama.”

I’ve been listening to quite a bit of 60s soul recently — blame the revival by folks like Ronson, Winehouse and Sharon Jones. It all leads you back, and before you know it, you’re rocking out to “Midnight Hour” by Wilson Pickett, or Eddie Floyd – “Knock On Wood.”

Emily Wells is an artist performing at this years SXSW in Austin — she creates a new genre, a mix of classical, hip-hop, alternative… I don’t know what to call it, but it’s brilliant. Emily Wells – “Symphony 6 – Fair Thee Well and the Requiem Mix.”

Jukebox The Ghost is an indie pop band, whose debut album, Let Live and Let Ghosts came out last year. They’re a three-piece: drums, guitar, piano — with serious chops. Reminds me a bit of early Ben Folds, but even better, in my opinion. Jukebox The Ghost – “Victoria.”

Lastly — one of the best hip-hop tracks of all time, which I never get tired of hearing. “Engine, Engine No. 9, on the New York transit line…” Black Sheep – “The Choice is Yours (Revisited).”

Enjoy.

…and we’re back, with some good stuff this week.

and I have been watching the UK series Demons, which is sort of a male “Buffy” in London. Fun stuff. Equally fun is the opening theme music, which is a 2006 single from an indie pop band from Norman, Oklahoma, of all places. Very, VERY brainwormy. The Starlight Mints – “Eyes of the Night.”

Saw the new Guy Ritchie film RocknRolla — and was pleased to note one of my favorite tunes by The Clash was featured. The Clash – “Bank Robber.”

U2’s new album, No Line On The Horizon is coming out in early March. I had already posted the first single, “Get On Your Boots” back in January, but I like this better — it’s the title track, and first track on the album: U2 – “No Line On The Horizon.”

This is fucking BRILLIANT. Jah Wobble, the former bassist for Public Image Ltd. and dabbler in world, folk and ambient music (among other genres) has recorded an album with his wife, Zi Lan Liao (classically-trained guzheng and yanqin player), and a 22-member Anglo-Chinese group, combining traditional Chinese melodies and instrumentation with the bass-and-beat-heavy sounds of Dub. Fans of the Wong Fei Hung movies will recognize the tune in this track: Jah Wobble & the Chinese Dub Orchestra – “L1 Horse Mountain.”

I’ve posted singles from her before (notably the achingly beautiful “White as Diamonds”), and now Alela Diane’s album, To Be Still has now been released. As I expected, it’s an amazing mix of Americana/folk, nearly becoming Country in some spots (slide guitar was an unexpected surprise on some tracks), with her crystalline voice ringing throughout. Here’s a sample: Alela Diane – “The Alder Trees.”

Lastly, my all-time favorite track from INXS, from their 1982 album Shabooh Shoobah. The synth riff still makes the hair on the back of my neck rise. Not sure why. INXS – “Don’t Change.”

There you go. As always, if any links give you trouble, try copy-and-paste.

Enjoy.

Sorry, folks — I didn’t have any time during the week to go on my usual musical meanderings, and I’m far too busy today to rush an entry.

Mea culpa!