Saturday, January 31, 2004
Skinheads in Russia
Just read this piece on skinheads in Russia. It strikes me that if you run with the right crowd here in the Western world, it's easy to forget the extent of xenophobia that still exists in most corners of the world.
Music 2K4
Just got my Okayplayer newsletter and in the coming year we have some LPs to look forward to: Talib Kweli "Beautiful Struggle", Common "BE" (which I hear is a return to Lonnie's yin-and-yang roots and features some harsh words for the neo-soul princess), and the Roots "The Tipping Point". Tipping Point is an interesting book if you've ever wondered how trends and movements get started.
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Fu-uck: deadly new Jazzanova rmx
Alright, fuck a sophomore slump, Jazzanova are raising the bar yet again. Track one of this is their nu New Spirit Helsinki remix (Realaudio). First, the drums come hard, none of that wishy-washy fusion jazz stuff I've been hearing too much of lately. Then the vocal kicks in: "Remember the good times. . .". Then Chic's Good Times cuts in - tuff! Call Dr. Sheela Basrur, the Teutonic soul brothers have avian flu.
Vocaloid visits from future
Yamaha has come up with a vocal synthesizer: type in the words and the notes and listen to the results. Pretty funny right now, but this'll get interesting when people start freaking it to do things that humans could never do.
Monday, January 26, 2004
A cute story: Breakdancers Perform for the Pope.
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Ayers retrospective on Worldwide
Gilles Peterson did a full show on Roy Ayers (of "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" and "Bonita Applebaum" fame) this week. Just terrific: drops for Roy from Ty, Andre 3000, Alison Crockett; lots of insight from Roy into how the classics came about; and a broad selection of his best tunes. My only beef is that they talk too much over the songs, but I suppose that's the only way to fit so much niceness into 2 hours. Looking forward to the new release on BBE!
These things only stay up for a week, so be sure to listen before Wednesday (Jan. 28) noon. . .
These things only stay up for a week, so be sure to listen before Wednesday (Jan. 28) noon. . .
Big-up Fiver the Driver! Thanks guy. . .
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Man, this is the FUNNIEST thing I've seen in a looong time: Barkley's reaction to being a hot topic on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. . .
Strictly Kev has put together a megamix of mash-ups to end all megamixes (MP3 - 53mb). He stitches together well over a hundred tracks over the 40-minutes mix - highlights include Will Smith over the "Lust for Life" break, an anti-S Club 7 "Sound of the Police" mash-up, Kelis vs. Losing My Edge, and lots of Missy bits and pieces.
Kev sprinkles great spoken-word samples throughout, and there's a long section that runs through the history of the studio mash-up, from old Beatles pieces through Double D & Steinski to Cut Chemist. In the process, he just about takes the mash-up concept to its logical conclusion. If this is a sign of the future, it will be ruled by those with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Here's the tracklisting (it was originally a radio mix).
That's to Bimal for the heads-up on music writer Sasha Frere-Jones's site.
Kev sprinkles great spoken-word samples throughout, and there's a long section that runs through the history of the studio mash-up, from old Beatles pieces through Double D & Steinski to Cut Chemist. In the process, he just about takes the mash-up concept to its logical conclusion. If this is a sign of the future, it will be ruled by those with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Here's the tracklisting (it was originally a radio mix).
That's to Bimal for the heads-up on music writer Sasha Frere-Jones's site.
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
The lowdown on the new Technics 1200 CD turntable. Gotta say, it's tempting me to hold off buying the one of the Pioneer joints. . .
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Here's a 45-minute long Jay Dee interview. Learn the real deal on who produced Janet Jackson's "Got 'Til It's Gone". Check for his sideways commentary on Frank'n'Dank's emcee skills - ah hell, I'll love both of em 'til the day I die. Jay is really loose in this piece, you get a real feel for his thoughts on a lot of things and his true passion for music. Nice musical beds edited in, too.
Monday, January 19, 2004
If you're in Ottawa, catch John Akpata's new weekly radio show on writing/poetry - Mondays @ 10pm on CHUO 89.1FM . If you know John, you know that he'll never be at a loss for words and he'll be bringing some cool peoples onto the air.
Here's Ak's word on tonight's show:
my people, my people...
please tune in tonight to CHUO 89.1 FM
at 10:00 pm
for Monday Night Scribes
where the microphone is mightier than the pen
with John Akpata
tonight's featured artist is
Jean Cherie Le Shah Loskar
there will be poetry politics
rhyming and reciting
Here's Ak's word on tonight's show:
my people, my people...
please tune in tonight to CHUO 89.1 FM
at 10:00 pm
for Monday Night Scribes
where the microphone is mightier than the pen
with John Akpata
tonight's featured artist is
Jean Cherie Le Shah Loskar
there will be poetry politics
rhyming and reciting
The J-Live show on Friday was a good good time. J doesn't really do any gimmicks, just a tight show all around. Also nice to see most of Dopey's DMC-winning set live.
Well worth a listen: the Bugz' live set in San Fran on Flux.fm. The set's a hit list of broken stuff, but it's all just setting up for the big tune: the live, Puerto Rican version of Mark de Clive Lowe's "Relax Unwind", complete with Spanish singing underneath. Upright bass, lots of hand percussion and big goddam smile on my face! Comes in at about 1h23min in. . .
Well worth a listen: the Bugz' live set in San Fran on Flux.fm. The set's a hit list of broken stuff, but it's all just setting up for the big tune: the live, Puerto Rican version of Mark de Clive Lowe's "Relax Unwind", complete with Spanish singing underneath. Upright bass, lots of hand percussion and big goddam smile on my face! Comes in at about 1h23min in. . .
Thursday, January 15, 2004
This week's Gilles Peterson show (tracklisting, just click on "Listen again to this week's show") is all 2004 forthcoming joints. There's a new Irfane and MAN do I love the new Jazzanova single, "Boom Clicky Boom Clack (It's Wot we Do)" - someone's been listening to Timbaland! That one's going to the front of the box as soon as it drops!! Three new Q-Tip jammies too, but I gotta bounce to a gig so I'm not gonna get that far tonight. . .
Also, here's the soulful bounce of Twista feat. Kanye West "Overnight Celebrity" (MP3). Once again, Kanye brings the wicked arrangement (love the breakdown, then switch-up to the strings). . .
Also, here's the soulful bounce of Twista feat. Kanye West "Overnight Celebrity" (MP3). Once again, Kanye brings the wicked arrangement (love the breakdown, then switch-up to the strings). . .
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
How tight does this Out of Africa night in London look? "Celebrating the history of Afro-music culture. . . A truly unique night, live traditional and contemporary African dancing and music with its descendant dance and music cultures." No chin-stroking world music here suckas! Found out about this one through Charlie Dark of the mighty Blacktronica.
Sad to see this, but it's kinda ill that if you've got the cash you can buy the Beasties' Grand Royal label. . .
Pho's Jan 2004 chart - The Wally Szczerbiak 10
1. Kanye West - Overnight Celebrity & Jesus Walks (Roc-a-fella)
2. Various Artists - DJ Spinna & Bobbito present The Wonder of Stevie
(Harmless)
3. Dego & Kaidi Tatham - Dealt a Bad Hand (2000 Black)
4. Al Green - Love and Happiness (Exile re-edit) (SIC)
5. Missy Elliot vs. Aquarius - I Can't Stand the Rain (Nuffwish)
6. DJ Spinna - Rock (The Grand Finale) (Up Above)
7. Da Lata - Change (Especial)
8. Ty - Upwards (Big Dada)
9. Four Tet feat. Guilty Simpson - As Serious As Your Life (Jay Dee remix)
(Domino)
10. DJ Marky & XRS - Get Down (CIA)
1. Kanye West - Overnight Celebrity & Jesus Walks (Roc-a-fella)
2. Various Artists - DJ Spinna & Bobbito present The Wonder of Stevie
(Harmless)
3. Dego & Kaidi Tatham - Dealt a Bad Hand (2000 Black)
4. Al Green - Love and Happiness (Exile re-edit) (SIC)
5. Missy Elliot vs. Aquarius - I Can't Stand the Rain (Nuffwish)
6. DJ Spinna - Rock (The Grand Finale) (Up Above)
7. Da Lata - Change (Especial)
8. Ty - Upwards (Big Dada)
9. Four Tet feat. Guilty Simpson - As Serious As Your Life (Jay Dee remix)
(Domino)
10. DJ Marky & XRS - Get Down (CIA)
Sunday, January 11, 2004
BBC News has an illuminating, succint story about how the consumption-focused western lifestyle is leaving people increasingly dissatisfied. A tidbit that might stimulate further thought.
"The Worldwatch Institute says more than 25% of the world's people now enjoy the style which used to belong to the rich.
"But it says rising obesity and debt, and increasing pressures on time, are reducing many people's quality of life. "
"The Worldwatch Institute says more than 25% of the world's people now enjoy the style which used to belong to the rich.
"But it says rising obesity and debt, and increasing pressures on time, are reducing many people's quality of life. "
Kanye West continues to do it well! I just heard a new joint about Jesus (!) that addresses a lot of interesting stuff and brings the heat with the beat too. "This might hurt my spins, that will hurt my ends. . ."
Friday, January 09, 2004
Canadia is a cold-ass place in winter, but we still can't help but take it hard when it hits -35 Celsius, which is what it's doing right now. If you're looking for something kinda hot, check this live DJ Spinna set (Realaudio) from Boombox.net. In two and half hours he goes through 20 years of hip hop to breaks, even a little house and it feels just right - dude's hip hop production is a little stagnant at times but this is required listening for aspiring party-rocker deejays everywhere. . .
Thursday, January 08, 2004
My apologies if you're already on Lebron overload, but I went to see the kid (scroll down to February 17), so I'm enjoying watching him grow up. This Ralph Wiley piece is a great update on how he's doing, including some nice bits about that beautiful Christmas game vs. the Magic. Don't believe the hype (it's starting to get overwhelming again) - just watch the game.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
By now you prolly know that the Knicks picked up Marbury. I have always loved watching dude and now he's finally matched with a complentary guard: Allan "Pure Shooter" Houston.
People can say what they want to about the league being spread out evenly these days, but don't tell me that for many people, the world still revolves around the Knickerbockers (even Andy Spinables is writing me about it!). At least until the Nets move to Brooklyn. . .
People can say what they want to about the league being spread out evenly these days, but don't tell me that for many people, the world still revolves around the Knickerbockers (even Andy Spinables is writing me about it!). At least until the Nets move to Brooklyn. . .
