All up in my shit
H1N1 is a hell of a virus. While I battled the internal piggies my computer also contracted a deadly, and most likely porn-related, virus and shut down on me. So I’m making my triumphant return to the site with a mixtape of some of the songs (new and old) that have been keeping me company in the midst of my fever deliriums.
Mp3: Reakwon (ft. Slick Rick, GZA, and Masta Killa) – We Will Rob You
I was skeptic about Raekwon’s OBFCL2, especially after “House of Flying Daggers” got so much undeserved attention, but damn this album is incredible. Wu-Tang is experiencing a resurgence after a decade of mediocrity. GZA’s flow is as good on this as it is on Liquid Swords‘ “Living in the World Today” whileSlick Rick brings a unnerving air of jocularity in this otherwise bare bones, slug-bursting track, and the production on this cut is as gritty and cinematic as the Wu-Tang of yesteryear.
You need this album.
Mp3: King Khan and the BBQ Show – I’ll be Loving You
Speaking of the GZA, King Khan is going to make an album with him. No, I’m not lying, check it out. The duo is also playing together this weekend at the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin. The GZA just keeps getting cooler.
Anyone disappointed with The Almighty Defenders should pick up King Khan’s newest album, Invisible Girl. Like this track, the whole album has more structure and doo-wop influence than TAD, while maintaining it’s spontaneity and overall strangeness. Good stuff.
Mp3: Cracked Latin – Caracas Shakedown
Anyone who’s a fan of Tito Puente, Johnny Pecheco, Celia Cruz, or Super Furry Animals will enjoy the afro-cuban surrealism of Cracked Latin, a New York duo who released their eclectic debut album, The World is Cracked Latin, on October 2.
Even though this song has a cacophonous backdrop of car chases, monkey howls, and street vendors, it is as structured and rhythmic as the best latin music. In fact all the seemingly random noises keep this track from being nothing but glorified lounge music. Listening to this song I don’t know if I can’t decide if I want to go find some peyote or learn to merengue.
Mp3: Devandra Banhart – Foolin’
Continuing with the world music influence we have Devandra Banhart’s imitation reggae, “Foolin’”. Honestly, there’s nothing special about this track whatsoever, in fact it kind of sucks, but it’s smooth listening. A perfect song to spin when you don’t have the necessary energy for Radiohead or Brahms.
Mp3: Lily Allen ft. Mick Jones – Straight to Hell
After M.I.A sampled all the merit out of this classic Clash track I thought I could never listen to “Straight to Hell,” again without hearing shotguns. Luckily my future wife, Lily Allen, and her godfather Mick Jones took it upon themselves to repair the damage done, and ended up with a a great cover. Covers can only be great if they can pull off simultaneously respecting the original, while stretching the material into new musical and social realms, which is exactly what Lily and Mick managed to do.
Mp3: B.B. King – Sweet Little Angel
Live at the Regal is generally regarded as the finest live blues recording of all time, even though the Beale st. Blues Boy has admitted that he thinks the album is only so-so. “Sweet Little Angel” stands as a testament to how wrong Mr. King is. This song has all the components of a topflight live recording, from the opening riff and the ensuing wails from the female contingency in the crowd, then the continued whistling and moaning, King’s impassioned delivery, the crescendo of horns, fainting women, and guitar, as well as a disgustingly good guitar solo from a man too often associated with his insipid twilight years.
Mp3: White Denim – I Start to Run
This is an example of musical entropy held together by emotion and talent. The vocals are reminiscent of a raging Dan Aurbach and the music is all over the place without being scatterbrained. This is the rock n’ roll equivalent of Coltrane, except it’s only a rollicking, clicking, booming, screaming, two and a half minutes long.
Check out the White Denims tonight boys and gals at the High Noon Saloon in Madtown.
Mp3: Gary Stewart – Single Again
For the last song I’m going to post the first and probably last honky-tonk song ever posted on this site. That being said, keep an open mind, because Gary Stewart is a melancholy genius. You will start singing this song, it gets into your blood like a virus.
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