This week is all hip-hop. I realize this means losing the interest of half of my 4 regular readers, but what can you do. They are missing out. Some of the most creative songs of the past few years have been made by hip-hop artists. This mix stemmed from what was posted on the internet. I originally was not going to do a hip-hop mix, but I downloaded some great songs and had to use them and eventually all my songs were rapping. I also downloaded some new songs by DJ Shadow and Kool Keith (Dr. Octagon/Mr. Nogatco) but decided the songs of theirs from the mid-90s were better. I'm old. Also, this is rap, while I avoided the worst offenders some of it is profane and not particularly feminist. You have been warned.
Also, I realized most people get this at work, so I wanted to be sure it was available all work week. So, I'm now putting it out on the weekends so you won't be coming to the website on Fridays before I post the new one and have no working link for th eold one.
Tracklist:
Dr. Octagon - I Got to Tell You / Blue Flowers
Word spread this week of prolific and insane rapper Kool Keith recording a followup album to Dr. Octagonecologyst. For me, the appeal of rap lies largely with the quality of the beats, so the lack of Dan the Automator's production on the followup tempers the excitement. However, Kool Keith is still insane, and rappers, like dictators, only get cooler with increased insanity.
Blackalicious - Alphabet Aerobics
So after expressing my love of the beat, I present a rap song that is largely entertaining due to the lyrical delivery. I saw this song done live back in the day. It was cool. 50 cent could not do this.
DJ Shadow - Changeling
Blackalicious opened for DJ Shadow at the aforementioned show. His album Endtroducing..., where this jazzy ditty comes from is a classic, not just of instrumental hip-hop, but of all time. I heard some of the songs he has worked on for the new album. All I can say is Yikes. It's not my bag. Doesn't even sound like the same guy. I'm all for evolving as an artist, but I just don't get it.
José González - Get 'Em High / Lovestain (w/ Kanye West, Talib Kweli & Common)
My iTunes shows the song like this. I guess José must do the guitar, but calling it his song is stretching it. Part of the reason for the hip-hop mix is the recent holiday for potheads. I don't know if you heard, but many rappers, they love the weed. Therefore they make songs about it, and then white kids post them to their blogs on 4/20. Then this white kid reposts it in his mix. Who said it has no value. Oh yeah, these brilliant guys.
Gnarls Barkley - The Boogie Monster
Gnarls Barkley is the new Knife. Search the internet for glowing praise and silly photos througout the blogsphere.
Pharcyde - Runnin' (Jay Dee Remix)
Yes, Pharcyde may be my favorite rap group ever. So what, I am a nerd. The original of this opener for their sophmore album Labcabincalifornia is great. This remix, by the recently deceased Jay Dee, slows it down considerably and gives it a totally different feel. Dig.
Mr. Lif - Phantom
Back in my radio DJ days the hip-hop director was great, thoughtful guy, who happened to be a communist. He loved all sorts of anti-establishment hip-hop, like this, for the lyrical content. I just love the El-P produced track. If capatalists/beatheads like me can find a common ground with communists/word-lovers in the space of one song then maybe Mr. Lif's message is truly the way. Bomb the System!
The Terminator movie series rules, each movie in the series serving its purpose masterfully. 1 is a great 80s flick with Arnold in his prime. 2 was a special effects monster and had that bad-ass Guns and Roses tune in it. 3 is absolutely hilarious and has a quote for every occassion. The post title is my favorite Arnold line in that movie. This has nothing to do with my mix, but it needed to be said. So I will try to work out some Terminator references below. Music is HERE.
Tracklist:
TV on the Radio - A Method
Man, every song I write about I want to say something like it "fills me with hope." And its usually on songs that aren't even about hope. This implies that: 1. I am otherwise hopeless and 2. I am some sort of weirdo new-age mama's boy. But, fuck it, this song gives me hope. Like a beautiful sunrise in some bleak post-Terminator future.
Band of Horses - The Funeral
Nope, not gonna say it. Downloaded this bad boy a couple weeks ago and was not impressed at first, but it has grown on me. This guy's voice sounds familiar but I can't place it. Help me out. This song would have been in the Funeral Parlor scene in Terminator III.
Brazillian Girls - Don't Stop
I posted this song on the prototype for this page months ago. I guess I'm running out of ideas if I'm serving leftovers already. I like how chill this song is, and how hot I think the girl singing it must be even though I have never seen her. This song could have been used for the sex scene lead up in Terminator I.
Mobius Band - The Loving Sounds Of Static (Junior Boys Remix)
I was thinking of doing a Junior Boys song here, but they are never as good as I want them to be. I had heard some good things about Mobius Band before but nothing grabbed me. I do, however, really like this remix. I think it all works real real well together. Maybe these 2 groups should form a band together. I think this could be played at the club scene in Terminator I. Of course when the shooting happens I think they would have to switch to something a bit harder.
Ween - Freedom of '76
What can I say about Ween? This is off of Chocalate and Cheese which is a freaking great album. Buy it if you don't have it. Now. I can't see Ween existing in the Terminator world
Marvin Gaye - T Plays it Cool
This is a nice jazzy instrumental. Umm, yeah, and it's good and stuff. They could have added a montage scene in Terminator II where they are getting ready for battle while this plays.
Husky Rescue - New Light of Tomorrow
The song says "hope" in the first line. I think this should have played as Arnold descended into the hot vat at the end of Terminator II. Is that a steel guitar they use here, or some weird Scandanavian instrument?
It is warmer than a motherfucker outside. And that's a good thing. The recent 70 degree weather has me downright giddy. Enjoy the bounty of my internet harvest. Mix these tunes with some sun and your hellish life should become bearable again. And for those of you who like what I do here, dig some electronic-y stuff, but just want it done much much better, check this mix out. Music for Robots are pimps.
Always enjoyed this song on the first day of the spring I could drive with the windows rolled down back when I was some sucker with a real job. Now I enjoy it as I drive off to go shopping with all the old people and housewives.
The Breeders - Divine Hammer
It's from way back high school daze. I think this was the second single after Cannonball ruled the universe for so long. There was some other song on the album talkin bout "summer is ready when you are" that may have been more appropriate. But someone posted this instead. You'll eat it and like it.
Blur - Girls and Boys
Another kinda old one, I must be nostalgic for something. Could be that gender-bending phase I had back in the 90s.
Nightmares on Wax - You Wish
The blog that posted this said something about Nightmares on Wax not being complicated, just being about finding the groove and riding it. Works for me.
Pharcyde and Sublime - Summertime in the LBC (Remix)
Never much of a Sublime fan. Always a fan of their version of this. Always a fan of Pharcyde because they were cool as shit. So you get the rap remix. Did I mention I love warm weather? Get me a beer wouldya?
Calexico - Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Divison Cover)
Obviously the original is fantastic. But this cover changes it up a bit. Makes it a bit happier. Happier than Joy Division? Yes, that's right.
Mates of State - Punchlines
The blog that posted this said something about how weird it as that band with an organ as the primary instrument came make you headbang. Listen to the end loud enough and you will do it too. I love stealing my song write-ups from other places and not crediting them due to laziness.
The internet did not come through with spectacular mp3s this week so I had to go back in the catalog for a lot of this. You will likely feel less interconnected with the universe as a whole after listening to this due to the temporal shift. And that gas you're huffing ain't helping either.
!!! - Take Ecstasy With Me (Magnetic Fields Cover)
Among people who keep track of such things this was widely considered to be the best cover of last year. The original is pretty sweet too, but this one makes me want to take more ecstasy faster. So it wins. Its also twice as long, and I got a thing for long songs. Its probably the drugs.
Broken Social Scene - 7/4 (Shoreline)
I missed out on the hype on these guys when their first album came out. But I've been making up for it for their latest album. I'm fully on board the Broken Social Scene is the shit train. Some guy posted some new b-sides this week but I like this song better.
Cex - Chicago
Cex is from Baltimore. This song is called Chicago. Not really sure why other than some references to Chicago places. I am also pretty sure the Ryan mentioned numerous times in the song is me. I found this online this week and can't decide if I like it or its terrible. I'm leaning towards like until you talk me out of it.
Fiery Furnaces - Here Comes the Summer
I also was late to the Fiery Furnaces hype. I should probably blindy jump on bandwagons more. They rock and are weird. This crap is catchy. And the summer reallyis coming. What are the odds?
Weezer - Velouria (Pixies Cover)
Hey, its another cover. I don't know when Weezer did this, but it sounds like from when they were cool.
Harry Caray - Take Me Out to the Ballgame
Harry Caray's BAC was usually accurately reflected by the Shawon-O-Meter. He is probably still wasted. I have much to learn from him even in death. Baseball season opened this week. The Cubs are still mathematically alive for the playoffs. Rejoice!
Portishead - Strangers (Live)
What happened to these bastards? They were frickin incredible. Notice how much better an orchestra sounds when Portishead are in charge of it as opposed to some fucktards like Aerosmith.
MP3 mixes are posted on Saturdays and should be valid until the following Friday. MP3s on pages linked from here are more likely to be valid earlier in the week.
