Category: Music

Heidi-ho, cats and kittens! Another mix-tape of teh intarwebs for ya:

One of my favorite New Wave tracks of the early 80s, which you don’t hear too much of any more — it wasn’t huge enough to be included on the endless nostalgia compilations or targeted-marketing radio formats that we get now. One of my favorite lyrics of all time, though: “I don’t think there are any Russians / And there ain’t no Yanks / Just corporate criminals / Playing with tanks.” The Call – “The Walls Came Down.”

OK — do NOT throw any rocks at me. I recently heard the lead single from Christina Aguilera’s forthcoming album….and damn if it isn’t really good. She’s basically decided to go for a neo-retro-hollywood-glamour thing. Check out the album cover, fer chrissakes. The music features period-style sounds cut and mixed with a very modern electronic/hip-hop sensibility…and, say what you like about the pre-fab, Mickey-Mouse-club origin of the kid, she’s definately got some pipes on her. Put your preconceived notions aside and give it a listen: Christina Aguilera – “Aint No Other Man.” Tell me that’s not hot.

While we’re on the subject of guilty pleasures, I have to share this. Prince has always had a recognizable M.O. when it comes to the ladies in his circle. They perform (ahem) some kind of back-up on his music, he sluts them up a bit, and then they go solo, usually with a Prince-penned debut single. We’ve seen it over and over again…but this was the first. Originally, the group was going to be called The Hookers, and the lead singer would be called Vagina. (No, I’m not making this up) When she balked at the name, he joked about her vanity….and the name was born. The group became known as Vanity 6 (6 being the number of breasts in the group….again, no I’m not kidding), and their first single, in 1982, was a HUGE dance club hit. Here it is: Vanity 6 – “Nasty Girl.”

This is a new band that I heard this week, who have got their first album coming out soon. I don’t know much about them aside from that, and the fact that I love this single: Hot One – “Do The Coup D’Etat.”

Another 80s track — this time from Tears for Fears. Like most of my favorites from the era, it’s not one that gets much play in today’s nostalgia craze. It’s my favorite track from the smash album Songs From The Big Chair, but never made it far as a single, so many of you might not be familiar with it. Tears For Fears – “Mother’s Talk.”

The Blade films have always been a manic mixture of “OK, now that was cool” and “what the fuck is this crap?” Without further ado, I present the coolest thing in Blade II, a collaboration by downtempo electronica/trip-hop superstars Massive Attack and actor/rapper/poet Mos Def, which makes for a seriously bad-ass “going to kick the monster’s asses” montage. “Right here is where the end gon’ start at….Conflict, contact ‘n’ combat.” Massive Attack and Mos Def – “I Against I.”

Every time an 80s compilation CD includes Harold Faltermeyer, it’s always “Axel F”, the theme that he provided for Eddie Murphy’s character, Axel Foley, in the Beverly Hills Cop movies. However, he did other soundtrack work, including an effort to reclaim the chart success of “Axel F” — which failed, of course. I actually like the song a bit more — it’s the theme that Faltermeyer did for the Chevy Chase movie Fletch: Harold Faltermeyer – “Fletch Theme.”

Another new artist, and again, not one that I know a lot about. I like the sound, though, the electronic-tinged dark backing with her lovely voice floating above it: Heather Duby – “Judith.”

For fans of the World Cup, you’ll recognize this track — it was used as the backing of the Adidas ad campaign that featured the Italian kids playing footy in the dirt lot, suddenly surrounded by star players from all over the world (who, naturally, disappear when one kid’s mother calls him in for dinner). The ad used the refrain of the song: “If you don’t give my football back, I’m gonna get my Dad on you.” The commercials, and the song, make me smile: Jim Noir – “Eanie Meany”

There you go. Enjoy.

Hey kids! Another week, more music.

Cut Chemist is the DJ who provided turntable work for Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli, as well as appearing several times with fellow turntablists like Dan the Automator and DJ Shadow. He’s got his first solo record out now, which I haven’t picked up yet, but it did remind me to post this track, which is not only my favorite of his, but also, in my opinion, the best example of turntable DJ’ing as art — taking snippets, samples and loops from other recordings, and turning them into a collage of sound that creates new art. This is an amazing piece which never fails to get me moving, his solo track on the Jurassic 5 album “Quality Control” — a post-modern look at the popular music of the 30s and 40s: Cut Chemist – “Swing Set.”

The new album from Muse, “Black Holes & Revelations” is abso-fucking-lutely brilliant. I’ve been listening to it nonstop since buying it. Here’s a sample from it…rumor has it that the entire album was leaked to the internet…by the band itself. The leaked files are the whole album….but in mono, rather than stereo. I listened, and it was enough to make me log on to the iTunes music store and buy the sucker….so the marketing plan worked. The album sounds like what you’d get if you mixed Radiohead, ELO and Queen. Here’s the first track, which is a scathing criticism of either George Bush or Tony Blair (depending on whom you ask). Again, sorry that this is mono….but it was too good not to share: Muse – “Take A Bow.”

Another entry in the “guilty-pleasure operatic metal” category, again from the band Demons & Wizards. The main guitar riffs are what sold me, but then when the double-pedal kick drum comes in, I get pulled in deeper. By the time that the nearly Queen-esque harmonies soar on the refrain, I’m a full-on fanboy. Demons & Wizards – “Dorian.”

I haven’t posted a mash-up in a while, and I found this one recently, which I liked quite a bit. The mix is done really well — the DJ plays around with it a bit, rather than simply relying on “vocals A plus instrumentals B.” Run DMC vs Metallica – “Tricky Sandman.”

Attention Fangirls — prepare to Squeee: James “Spike” Marsters has released a solo album, and it’s actually not too bad. As anyone who has seen the “Once More With Feeling” episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer can tell you, the boy can actually sing. I heard the lead single from it earlier this week, and decided to share: James Marsters – “Civilized Man.”

Here’s a track from The Crystal Method which has been used for commercials, oddly enough. Of course, when Advertisers use it, they drop the main sample of “Listen, All you Motherfuckers!!!” Although, personally, if they kept that in, I’d be more likely to remember the commercial….The Crystal Method – “Name of the Game.”

Mike Patton, the lead singer for Faith No More….and Mr. Bungle….and Fantomas….has yet another project he’s working on, which I learned about in last month’s issue of FutureMusic magazine. It’s dark, electronic-based alternative/pop, recorded under the name Peeping Tom. This track is brilliant — and features Nora Jones with him on the refrains, completely outside of her usual crystal-clear jazz-singer box, being sexy, breathy and vulgar. Love the lyrics on this. Peeping Tom – “Sucker.”

I’m fairly sure that I may have posted this before, way back at the start of Friday Music….but I’ve got quite a few more readers now, so it’s worth posting again. This is one of my favorite tracks from Zero 7’s first album, “Simple Things.” Everything about it is wonderful, from the production to the composition to the…well, you get the idea. Listen. Zero 7 – “I Have Seen.”

I’ll close with a track from the same album as the first track — Jurassic 5’s “Quality Control” — this time featuring the rappers with the DJ. This is my all-time favorite J5 track, because it spotlights everything that is great about them. Unusual sample sources, vocal harmonies, incredible verbal dexterity and genuinely clever lyrics. Jurassic 5 – “The Influence.”

There ya go.

Got a bunch for you this week, so let’s get started:

At the Blow-Stuff-Up cook-out last Saturday, I was telling about this, and completely blew away, because she couldn’t believe that anyone besides her had ever heard it. So, here it is — the lead-off track from the 1978 concept album: Jeff Wayne’s musical version of War of the Worlds, featuring Richard Burton as the narrator, and with vocals by Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues. It’s my favorite track from the album. Note that the mix is continuous, so this fades into the beginning of track 2 (“Horsell Common and the Heat Ray”) before cutting off somewhat abruptly. Jeff Wayne – “The Eve of The War.” “The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one….yet still, they come!”

One for : more French hip-hop, courtesy of “La Belle et Le Bad Boy” artist MC Solaar. This one is a downtempo track, about a woman, and pretty damned cool — He’s not as into mixing up samples of North African music like other French hip-hop acts (he stays on a more traditional American-style R&B feel), but the sound is still great. I get a kick out of a precise language like French used for rap. MC Solaar – “Caroline.”

Some really excellent German dark electronica to get your stompy boots a-twitchin’, courtesy of my friend ,recording under the name Electronic Body Confusion – “Maschinenpuls.”

One of my favorite bits of rare New Wave from 1980, featuring a pre-Ultravox Midge Ure. Visage – “Fade to Grey”

According to David Bowie, Brian Eno came running into their studio in Berlin one day carrying this record, announcing that he had “heard the future.” One of the greatest synth riffs of all time, courtesy of Giorgio Moroder, lends a machine-like, cold foundation, over which Donna Summer lays breathy, sexy vocals. Cold and Hot at the same time. Genius. Donna Summer – “I Feel Love.”

For all you show tune fans — here’s a new, absolutely brilliant electronic-tinged piano jazz version of a Broadway classic. I really like this version quite a bit. Big Bang – “My Favourite Things.”

An absolutely smoking track featuring a wailing siren and driving guitars from a band appropriately named “Klaxons.” I don’t know much about them (this is the first track I’ve ever heard from them, and their MySpace page is a bit lacking in the bio department), but this kicks ass: Klaxons – “Atlantis to Interzone.”

I’ve been expanding my listening a bit recently, giving an ear to the odd breed of fantasy-geek operatic Metal. I have to admit that I like some of it (god help me). This is the title track from one such release, a 2005 album by the German metal band Demons & Wizards – “Crimson King.” Makes me want to roll a d20 with some fuckin’ AUTHORITY, man.

Lastly, this is the first single from the Dresden Dolls second album, Yes Virginia. Obviously designed as an audience participation piece, it gets louder and more impassioned until the sing-along segment. A really beautiful composition. I love the lines “Life is no Cabaret….We don’t care what you say….We’re inviting you anyway..” Dresden Dolls – “Sing.”

There you go, kids. Enjoy.