Music Hound

MUSIC HOUND HAS MOVED....

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:03:00 +0000

...to greener pastures. You will be automatically directed to the new and improved Music Hound site in 10 seconds. Don't worry, all previous content is still there...I hope you enjoy.

Cut of the Week 02.21.11 - President's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:27:00 +0000

Today is President's Day and with the U.S. celebrating one of its most venerated historical figures (George Washington), I decided to take things in a different direction. I though to myself, is there a song about one of the most villified Presidents in our history? The answer is an emphatic, "Yes!"

In keeping with a presidential theme, here is the 1973 funk classic, "Impeach The President" by The Honey Drippers which is obviously a reference to Richard Nixon's fleeting days in office before resigning as a result of one the biggest political scandals of all time. If you think you've heard the snare, kick and hi-hat of the initial drum break before, there's a good reason for that. The first 20-25 seconds is the basis of one the most frequently used samples in popular music, predominantly featured in countless hip hop songs from Audio Two's "Top Billin" to Biggie's "Unbelievable"(In fact, whosampled.com lists 152 different songs that have sampled "Impeach The President".)

Take a listen and enjoy your day off.

The Honey Drippers - "Impeach The President"

Interview with Grieves

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 15:12:00 +0000

Please check out my interview with Grieves that was just published on Neon Musical Insight (Click here for the direct link to the article). Grieves is a thoughtful and skilled MC in the independent hip hop scene who is a fast rising star. Go and check him out if you can as he teams up with his partner Budo, and joins Atmosphere, Blueprint, DJ Abilities and Sab The Artist on the Rhymesayers' Family Tour. Attention NYC heads: They have a show at Terminal 5 on April 26th.

I am proud and looking forward to working with such a tirelessly diligent and comprehensive site dedicated to music. Big thank you to Neon Musical Insight founder/senior editor Chris Brancato for putting the shine on me. I plan on collaborating with them more in the near future, so keep your eyes peeled...

Hope you enjoy.

Cut of the Week 02/11/11

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 15:05:00 +0000

I'm currently working on an overhaul of Music Hound in the hope that I can make it bigger and even better. With that said, I may have to take a short break with respect to crafting new mixtapes/episodes. However, this is a great opportunity to take a step back and check out some of the older mixtapes I have labored over in the last year. Simply peruse through the archives and enjoy the mixtapes you may have missed or forgotten about.

In the meantime, I will continue to post Cuts of The Week and other fun odds and ends dealing with the music world. So, in the spirit of unearthing undiscovered treasures, here is the title track from Two Steps From The Blues by blues/soul legend, Bobby Bland. Despite being unknown by many (including myself until very recently), over the last 60 years Bland's signature voice has enabled him to carve out a deserved place for himself in the canon of superstar classic blues/soul artists in the likes of B.B. King, Solomon Burke, and Otis Redding.

He continues to perform live at the age of 81.

Give it a listen. Enjoy.

Bobby Bland - "Two Steps From The Blues"

Episode #30: California Dreamin'

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:51:00 +0000

With most of the U.S. experiencing a prolonged deep freeze this winter, I once again turn to music to keep me from suffering seasonal depression. For this mixtape, I decided to select songs that conjure up images of sun, surf, and simply riding around with the top down. What better place to capture this ideal than our very own West Coast?

I believe the tracks here offer a nice smattering of genres yet still retain something undeniably sunny and westward-looking. The originators of beach-flavored tunes, The Beach Boys and the oft-overlooked King of the Surf Guitar, Dick Dale, are represented along with the best present-day incarnations of “beach pop,” Best Coast, Tennis, and Beach House. To offset the softer pop tunes I also chose to include a couple of uptempo hip hop tracks from some of my personal favorites from the West Coast scene, such as People Under The Stairs and Ugly Duckling, and a real rocker from the experts of loud, jarring beats, Sleigh Bells.

And for good measure, I just had to have Ice Cube’s classic ode to a perfect day in L.A.

I am going to take solace in knowing that soon enough summer will be here in New York. Soon. Real soon. Any day now…

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Track List:
1) Wouldn’t It Be Nice (2:24) – The Beach Boys
2) West Coast (3:32) – Coconut Records
3) Summer Mood (2:26) – Best Coast
4) The L.A. Song (4:27) – People Under the Stairs
5) Beach Girls (3:23) – Sleigh Bells
6) Cape Dory (2:29) (live at Daytrotter) – Tennis
7) Everything’s Alright (3:44) – Ugly Duckling
8) It Was A Good Day (4:20) – Ice Cube
9) California (3:50) – Joni Micthell
10) Walk In The Park (5:26) – Beach House
11) Shake N’ Stomp (2:12) – Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
12) California Sun (3:04) – The Dictators

Cut of the Week 01/26/11

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 17:04:00 +0000

With the winter slowly killing my soul, I find solace in watching old episodes of 30 Rock. If you haven't caught 30 Rock fever yet, you really don't know what you're missing. By far it's the funniest and smartest comedy on TV since my beloved Arrested Development left me.

Here is "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" by Tracy Morgan's character, the incomparable Tracy Jordan. It is a stroke of sheer genius to fuse the Jewish rite of passage with the pagan holiday where we celebrate the macabre and dress in costume. Unrelated phenomena? I think not. Trust me, you'll think twice once you see my Bar Mitzvah pictures. I simply couldn't wait for Halloween to share this with you all. While the video is admittedly nothing special (and there is an obligatory 15 second commercial -ugh), it's still very much worth the listen.

Enjoy and stay warm.

Cut of the Week 01/21/11

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Jason Schwartzman (yes, that Jason Schwartzman of Rushmore, Darjeeling Limited, and HBO's Bored to Death fame) heads a band called Coconut Records that released a gem of an album in early 2009 that I believe has gone undeservedly overlooked.

On Davy, Coconut Records employs a Beatles-esque pop formula, with a very staight-forward arrangement of drums, guitar and some piano. They are pure and simple pop tunes with nearly every song clocking in under 3 minutes. Even the song titles are intentionally uncomplicated and short, generally limited to one or two words. If you are a fan of Schwartzman's works, you will appreciate his wry, ironic humor peeking out throughout the record, including the chorus, "I was a drummer in a band that you heard of." This album could seemlessly fit into any of Wes Anderson's movies. And given that Schwartzman has starred in several, it makes perfect sense.

Despite being an actor first, Schwartzman certainly has a knack for making pop tunes with great hooks and a lot of heart, sometimes with a wink. I guarantee this song, Microphone, will get stuck in your head. Isn't that the sign of a pop song achieving its goal?

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Coconut Records - "Microphone"

Cut of the Week 01/13/11

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:53:00 +0000

While staring out of my window, the frosted-over scenery can be pretty depressing. So, in order to liven up these dark days of January I make a concerted effort to go off hunting for live shows in NYC on the glorious world wide web. Luckily, I had just received an email from a friend that just clued me in to an upcoming show at Music Hall of Williamsburg where Blockhead and Emancipator will be performing on January 28th. Tickets bought.

Now, I've featured Blockhead here on Music Hound before on the Episode #24: Loungin'. However, Emanicpator, a Portland, Orgeon native, I've known primarily for his gorgeous remixes of some Sage Francis tracks. While, Emanicpator can be categorized as a downtempo, hip hop instrumentalist, he is certainly a different animal worth getting to know better. Wanting to familiarize myself more with his body of work, I came across an interesting remix mash-up of Icelandic legends Sigur Ros and Queensbridge's own Mobb Deep. On paper, it seems completely incongruous, however, Emancipator carefully crafts a fusion of Sigur Ros' magnificent sonic soundscapes and Mobb Deep's gritty, stream-of-consciousness rhymes. It works beautifully.

If you like this, I suggest you check out Emancipator's other albums, specifically his 2006 release (and very timely for winter) Soon It Will Be Cold Enough, which employs strings, pianos, ethereal vocal samples, and elements of jazz and drum n' bass to create wonderfully lush mood music.

Or, come to the show on January 28th! Only $15.

Enjoy.

Concert Review: Sharon Van Etten @ Bowery Ballroom 01.08.11

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:42:00 +0000

Please click here http://thesilvertongueonline.com/?p=21512 to check out my review of budding starlet Sharon Van Etten's stellar performance at the Bowery Ballroom from last Saturday night.

You can also hear her right here on Episode #28, Bittersweet Vol. III.

Episode #29: Bringing Ska Back

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 22:08:00 +0000

Well, maybe not bringing ska back to its Third Wave Revival prominence of the mid/late 1990s, but a nostalgic look nonetheless at a genre that was irreverent most of the time, fun all of the time, and even helped catapult bands like No Doubt and Sublime into the mainstream. While those giants of ska are included here, there is also a roster of great ska/punk bands that have their best days behind them in terms of popularity and cultural relevance. However, that’s precisely what Music Hound is here for – to dig up forgotten treasure troves of music that is hidden from everyday view.

Incorporating elements of two-tone British ska, traditional Jamaican reggae and dub rhythms, and even infusing flourishes of melodic punk/hardcore, Third Wave Ska is a genre that brims over with unbridled energy and danceable hooks. While some dismissed the often juvenile or “sophomoric” lyrical content (songs about beer abound) of ska music, the infectious nature of the genre allowed it to breakthrough to the mainstream, peaking around 1998.

Third Wave Revival ska was certainly not monolithic. Some may prefer the ska that feature more hardcore elements of pop-punk or hardcore showcased here by tracks from Sublime, Less Than Jake, Rancid, Operation Ivy, and The Impossibles. Others may opt for the more straightforward odes to Jamaican reggae such as “Bones” by Bim Skala Bim or traditionalist skinny-tie ska like Hepcat’s “Earthquake and Fire” and Allstonians’ “Homeward Bound.” Whether you like your 90s ska laden with lots of horns or sprinkled with punk chords and shout-along choruses, ska music was the product of a rich musical tradition that incorporated a variety of other approaches to make something new and that was at its core simply FUN. Although it didn’t quite have the staying power for the long haul, it’s great to skank your way down memory lane anyway…

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Track List:
1) Take Warning (2:44) – Operation Ivy
2) Earthquake and Fire (2:28) – Hepcat
3) Mass Appeal Madness (3:06) – Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A.
4) Girl Take It Easy (3:54) – The Pietasters
5) Homeward Bound (4:15) – Allstonians
6) Don’t Let The Bastards Grind You Down (2:49) – The Toasters
7) No Face (1:53) – Suicide Machines
8) 40 Oz. To Freedom (3:03) – Sublime
9) Widowmaker (2:07) – The Impossibles
10) Super Rad (3:03) – The Aquabats
11) Beer (3:41) – Mustard Plug
12) Trapped In A Box – No Doubt
13) Bones (3:41) – Bim Skala Bim
14) Stuff (3:09) – MU3330
15) Ruby Soho (4:49) – Rancid
16) Boomtown (2:45) – Less Than Jake
17) Thick Ass Stout (4:53) – Skankin’ Pickle

Goodbye 2010!

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:57:00 +0000

Another year is about to be put into the books. I suppose this is as good a time as any to thank any and all of you who have stopped in here at Music Hound throughout the year to check out the podcasts and random tracks of new, old, and/or different music. Please continue to drop in from time to time to see what I've come across lately and don't forget to COMMENT, COMMENT, COMMENT. Otherwise, I have no idea if people are enjoying the episodes and other assorted odds and ends or if I'm simply screaming into the wind.

In order to send off 2010 in style, here is My Jerusalem's fittingly titled, "Farewell," the last track off of their debut album released this fall called, Gone For Good. This indie rock supergroup of sorts is perhaps under most people's radar, but they craft orchestral pop ditties that are heartbreakingly beautiful. So, go and check them out.

Goodbye to you, 2010, you've been fun. Hello 2011.

Have a Happy and Safe New Year, everyone!

My Jerusalem - "Farewell"

Interview with Givers

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:34:00 +0000

Check out my interview for The Silver Tongue with Givers, an amazing quintet from Louisiana who blew me away both times I've seen them live at the Knitting Factory. If you don't know, now you know...

http://thesilvertongueonline.com/?p=20785

Cut of the Week 12/21/10 - Christmas Once More...

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:27:00 +0000

This one I simply could not resist. What sums up what Christmas is all about more poignantly than the 1977 David Bowie and Bing Crosby duet, Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth? Yes, the staged encounter is terribly awkward (Bowie to Bing: "Are you the new butler?") with Bing making self-deprecating jokes at almost every turn and Bowie's what-am-I-doing-here confusion practically written on his face.

However, the worlds-apart dynamic between Bowie, who was at the height of his glam-rock powers in 1977, and Bing, representing the fading old guard (he actually passed away one month after this was recorded) doesn't belie something sweetly sad about their performance - almost like an estranged grandfather and grandson spending an afternoon together. For me, there is a quality of timelessness to this song and especially this performance. Despite how strange it may appear on paper, it just works.

Watch. Listen. Enjoy. Happy Holidays everyone!

Cut of the Week 12/15/10

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 21:06:00 +0000

Like it or not, it's that time of year known as Christmastime. Aside from the overlooked religious aspect, it is a time when our appetite for consumption is in high gear. With that said, I'm certainly no grinch. Christmas marks the end of another calendar year and the beginning of a fresh one, with all the promise of new (and better) things to come.

Encapsulating that feeling, here is John and Yoko's 1972 classic single that is simultaneously a celebration and protest song that stands up to the test of time and retains its quiet power after all these years due to its gorgeous simplicity.

Enjoy.

John Lennon & Yoko Ono - "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"

Cut of the Week 12/08/10

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:11:00 +0000

December is upon us and the Arctic chill has set in. So, I decided to feature a track that will certainly keep you warm because your body will have no alternative other than to bump and shake in rhythm to this Curtis Mayfield soul/funk groove from his 1971 album, Roots. Funk doesn't get much thicker. So stay warm and enjoy this one from the incomparable Curtis.

Curtis Mayfield - "Underground"

Episode #28: Bittersweet Vol. III

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:11:00 +0000

Here is the third installation of my Bittersweet Series. Hopefully without repeating myself, the songs featured on this mix are generally of an introspective, downtempo vibe. I did not set out to develop an overarching genre here, however looking back at it now I seemed to have been leaning towards a folk aesthetic on this one. Yet, there is music both old, such as The Beach Boys and Big Star, and new, with the likes of Sharon Van Etten, Beach House, and Midlake picking up where those pioneers left off.

Anyway, with the year (and decade) coming to a close, I thought that it was high time to have a mix that may help us to look inward and think about where we have been before focusing on where we are heading next. It’s simply a mix of some really pretty music that covers quite a bit of ground while still seeming to belong together.

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Track Listing
1) Watch The Sunrise (3:45) – Big Star
2) A Crime (3:14) – Sharon Van Etten
3) Curs of Weeds (3:31) – Horse Feathers
4) Postcards From Italy (4:18) – Beirut
5) The Distance (2:49) – Peasant
6) In The Ground (4:13) – Midlake
7) God Only Knows (2:52) – The Beach Boys
8) Haikuesque (When She Laughs) (3:33) – Bibio
9) Congratulations (3:57) – MGMT
10) Master of None (3:19) – Beach House
11) Far, Far Away (3:20) – Wilco
12) Fallin in Love With You Again (4:09) – Imelda May
13) With All My Heart (3:25) – Clem Snide
14) Carmelita (Live) (4:22) – Warren Zevon with Jackson Browne
15) At Least You Feel Something (5:56) – Small Sins
16) Walking On A Wire (5:28) – Richard & Linda Thompson

Cut of the Week 11/17/10

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:47:00 +0000

I have no idea how or why this song came to mind as I haven't heard it nor thought about it in perhaps 15 years. However, that is the beauty of the Cut of the Week feature - dusting off some old favorites to share for no specific reason.

Kid 'N Play were a successful hip hop duo that experienced the zenith of their relevance upon the release of their 1988 album 2 Hype coupled with their ability to parlay their fame into the House Party movie franchise (and don't forget the cult classic Class Act). Kid's eraserhead-flattop and the group's inexplicably infectious kick-step dance routine may be written off as schtick, yet Kid 'N Play knew how to emphasize feel-good party vibes with simple, direct lyrics and catchy choruses. Although the New Jack swing element in most of their tracks make the music sound very dated, it's nice to reminisce to way back when, when hip hop artists could be overtly positive and relatively clean without sacrificing the fun aesthetic to their music.

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Kid 'N Play - "Ain't Gonna Hurt Nobody"

Episode #27: Southern Fried Rock

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:15:00 +0000

All too often Southern music is dismissed as country music written about rowdy out-of-the-way bars, moonshine made in the backwoods, and fast women. While these elements do work their way into almost all Southern music, it does not encapsulate the energy, swagger, musicianship and sheer fun of Southern Rock, which experienced its heyday in the 1970s. Incorporating influences taken from the blues, boogie rock, folk, rootsy rock n’ roll, country and funk, Southern Rock is an amalgam of music that has its traditions firmly rooted in the good ol’ USA.

Although titans like Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers Band are the most renowned examples of Southern Rock, there is a huge catalogue of unsung heroes of the genre who never managed to escape the large shadow cast by their big-name musical cousins.

Although ZZ Top may now be more associated with its more polished 1980s hits such as “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs,” they began as a trio in 1970 that played a riveting bloozy Texas-stomp. In fact, I have heard that Jimi Hendrix once commented that Billy Gibbons was the best guitarist he ever saw. Other bands such as Molly Hatchet and Blackfoot (both from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s hometown of Jacksonville, Florida), Black Oak Arkansas from (you guessed it) Arkansas, The Marshall Tucker Band from Spartanburg, South Carolina and Atlanta Rhythm Section from Doraville, Georgia all achieved considerable success, but nowhere near the level of Skynyrd or the Allman Brothers. Southern Rock being the unwieldy category it is, allowed for each of these bands to drift along the musical spectrum from Atlanta Rhythm Section’s softer and more pop-oriented vibe to Blackfoot’s more hard rock sound to Dixie Dregs’ funky, jazz fusion heard on “Refried Funky Chicken.” Finally, I couldn’t leave off the legendary Willie Nelson, who straddles the increasingly blurry line between country and rock on “Shotgun Willie.” Nor could I overlook the present-day embodiment and torch bearer of all these artists’ legacies – The Black Crowes.

Finally, you don’t necessarily need to be born in the South to play Southern-styled music. While hailing from California, Little Feat’s sound was quintessential Southern boogie rock. Even The Doobie Brothers, who are from San Jose, California, were able to craft a masterful fusion of Southern bluegrass (the fiddle plays a crucial component of the song’s Southern aesthetic) and more traditional rock with its 1974 classic, “Black Water.” I guess, like anything, Southern Rock is more a state of mind than anything else.

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Track Listing
1) Time Loves a Hero (4:20) – Little Feat
2) Dimples (Live)(5:02) – The Allman Brothers Band
3) Swimmin’ In Quicksand (3:21) – Black Oak Arkansas
4) The Ballad of Curtis Loew (4:55) – Lynyrd Skynyrd
5) Champagne Jam (4:36) – Atlanta Rhythm Section
6) Waitin’ For The Bus (2:59) – ZZ Top
7) In My Own Way (7:25) – The Marshall Tucker Band
8) Shotgun Willie (2:37) – Willie Nelson
9) Black Water (4:20) – The Doobie Brothers
10) Country Girl (3:14) – Ozark Mountain Daredevils
11) Train, Train (2:58) – Blackfoot
12) Refried Funky Chicken (3:18) – Dixie Dregs
13) Sweet Dixie (3:57) – Molly Hatchet
14) Remedy (5:23) – Black Crowes

R.I.P. Sony Walkman (1979 - 2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:59:00 +0000

Sony announced yesterday that it will discontinue its former flagship product - the cassette tape based Walkman. This iconic music gadget will now take up space in your garage next to your 8-tracks and mini-disc player as obsolete devices you may take a look at every now and then to bask in the nostalgia.

I, for one, grew up with a Walkman constantly in my hands and foam headphones firmly perched atop my head. The Walkman changed my world for the better and I have been addicted to music ever since. Here, in tribute, is the title track to the very first piece of music I owned (on cassette, naturally) - RUN DMC's Raising Hell.

I will miss you, Walkman. Sleep well, sweet prince.

RUN DMC - "Raising Hell"

R.I.P. Eyedea (1981 - 2010)

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:29:00 +0000

This past Saturday Rhymesayers stalwart Micheal "Eyedea" Larsen was found dead just shy of his 29th birthday. A hip hop artist who was renown as a battle MC specialist (many consider him one of the best of all time and videoclips are all over YouTube if you're interested) is believed to have succumbed to an ongoing struggle with drugs.

Known simply as Mikey to those close to him, Eyedea will be remembered as a passionate artist whose songs were intelligent and heartfelt. A seriously respected and influential figure in the world of independent hip hop, Eyedea will be sorely missed.

Here's a track from the album, Eyedea & Abilities, in tribute.

Eyedea & Abilities - "Exhausted Love"

¡Viva Chile!

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:48:00 +0000

The recent successful rescue of the 33 miners trapped under the earth in Northern Chile is one of those rare stories nowadays. It's rare in the sense that a story covered in mainstream media focused on things like cooperation, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit. This is in direct opposition to the usual fare - fear, desperation and doom. It's just nice to have a story to feel positive about without any reservations. The good guys actually won this time. Let's enjoy this moment before the movie goes into production and the books are written...

This track by Chilean-folk legends Quilapayún is dedicated to those who survived this ordeal with dignity and strength and to my Chilean friends around the world who feel an enormous sense of pride.

The title of the song is quite fitting - it translates to "The People United Will Never Be Defeated." Enjoy.

Quilapayún - "El Pueblo Unido Jamás Será Vencido"

Happy One Year Anniversary...to me!!! AND Episode #26: Independent Hip Hop Vol. I

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:52:00 +0000

This day exactly one year ago Music Hound was born. It was (and remains) a labor of love. Although I have not been as prolific as I had hoped to be, I’m quite happy with the quality of the playlists I’ve crafted as well as the additional features such as The Cut of The Week. I hope I have introduced you to some new music/artists and perhaps reacquainted you with something that got lost along the way in the shuffle of life. Your positive feedback is what keeps me going, so PLEASE continue to check in often and offer your insights, questions, comments, and of course, requests. Thank you all for finding some sense of enjoyment here.

**Don’t forget to spread the word about this blog to friends and family and that all the podcasts are available for FREE on iTunes so you can take the mixes along with you.

With that said, what better place to commemorate where we’re going than to take a look back to see from where we have come. Since hip hop was the feature of the very first podcast, I thought it was appropriate to revisit that genre to mark Music Hound’s one year anniversary. Here is a mixtape that I made in 2003 that was in heavy rotation for quite some time and made its rounds to a good number of co-workers and friends. This music is commonly called “underground” hip hop, however I prefer to use the term independent given that it has a much more positive connotation and, since it has done wonders for rock n’ roll (“indie rock” has experienced an unprecedented explosion in popularity and sheer size the last 10 years) perhaps it can serve the hip hop community well, too.

Some of these artists continue to put out consistently solid material and remain favorites of mine to this day. Aesop Rock, Atmosphere, Brother Ali and MF Doom (AKA King Geedorah) have become stalwarts in the independent hip hop scene. In fact, Brother Ali is by far my favorite MC and you MUST see him live – he is flawless. J-Live, an NYC school teacher and Sage Francis, a former slam poet champion, are also perennial favorite wordsmiths of mine, although Sage’s recent foray into indie rock/hip hop fusion left me very disappointed. West Coasters Ugly Duckling have always been an extremely fun listen with incredible beats ever since I first heard them on the 1999 Funky Precedent compilation which had a huge impact on my musical wanderings. Portland natives Life Savas’ sampling of dancehall legend Tenor Saw’s “Fever” is so funky, it’s too bad they haven’t produced much since their 2003 debut. Gift of Gab from Blackalicious is probably one of the most talented rappers in the game and continues to release quality material as a solo artist, however nothing as special as his early work as Blackalicious with producer/DJ Chief Xcel.

Not a fan of hip hop? Give this a listen and then decide.

Track listing:
1) Daylight (4:25) – Aesop Rock
2) Blamegame (4:48) – Atmosphere
3) Shallow Days (4:21) – Blackalicious
4) Forest Whitaker (3:00) – Brother Ali
5) On This I Stand (4:59) – Eyedea & Abilities
6) Unlimited (3:27) – Soul Position
7) Don’t Get It Twisted (4:19) – Jigmastas feat Sadat X
8) Like This Anna (4:22) – J-Live
9) Anti-Matter (3:27) – King Geedorah feat Mr. Fantastic
10) Fever (5:24) – Life Savas
11) Dynomite (4:10) – Lone Catalysts feat J-Live
12) 360 Degrees (3:38) - Push Button Objects feat Del
13) Favorite Things (4:01) – Illogic feat Blueprint
14) La Revolucion (5:17) – Ugly Duckling
15) Runaways (6:08) – Sage Francis

Cut of the Week 09/29/10

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 13:56:00 +0000

The Budos Band are for real. I had the privilege to see them recently at Southpaw in Brooklyn for their record release party and I was not disappointed. The Budos Band is a ten-piece ensemble (it felt like a small village was on stage) that hails from Staten Island and specializes in a unique brand of Afro-soul, funk fusion. While the influences of Afro-beat legend Fela Kuti and Ethiopian jazzman Mulatu Astatke are undeniable, there is also a heavy dose of R&B and classic soul backed by thick grooves. Label-mates of soul revivalist extraordinaire, Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, The Budos Band are one of the most impressive live acts I've seen in a while. They play hard, they play loud, and they play funky. Oh yeah, they also were dropping F-bombs non-stop during their interactions with the crowd. Although that may seem somewhat incongruous with their music, to me it simply signified how much fun they were having up on that stage.

Go catch them perform live, they are a must-see act.

Here is a track off their new album, Budos Band III.

The Budos Band - "River Serpentine"

Cut of the Week 09/20/10

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:19:00 +0000

On a rainy Tuesday afternoon in May I went out to Crown Heights to meet Ben Laub. In the music world, he is better known as Grieves, a 6-foot, 130-pound, baby-faced 26-year old who is making a name for himself in the independent hip hop scene as part of the Rhymesayers label/collective. I was recently introduced to his music courtesy of his gripping performance at The Knitting Factory as an opener for Brother Ali. However, to call him a mere hip hopper is to miss the point entirely.

Since 2007, Grieves has been putting out music that incorporates the precise lyricism of a rapper with the plaintive singing and sensibility more akin to a bluesman or folk singer. His unabashed heart-on-his-sleeve approach and intense live performances have earned him much acclaim while drawing the ire of some in the blogopshere for being too emotional. At his live shows and on his last album, 88 Keys & Counting, he has been joined by multi-instrumentalist and musical partner, Budo, who provides instrumentation and production atypical of most hip hop acts these days. In fact, 88 Keys & Counting contained not a single sample. Here is a song from that album, an introduction to an artist who boasts inspiration from Big Pun to Bon Iver, and is the best upcoming artist you may have never heard of. Yet.

Grieves - "Catapults" link

Episode #25: My Favorites of 2010 (thus far)...

noreply@blogger.com (Mateo) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:16:00 +0000

I know what you’re thinking – best of 2010 at the end of August?!? Why not choose at least a more logical midway point in June and call it the best of the first half of 2010? Well, these are good questions to ask. However, I feel that September a very logical point to stop and reflect on the year so far, especially when considering music.

September marks the regrettable conclusion of summertime, which is a very busy season for new releases. Furthermore, summer vacations and barbecues provide us with more downtime than usual and thus enable us to enjoy and appreciate more music.

With that said, here is a selection of some of my favorite tracks released this year (so far). There are some obvious choices from eagerly anticipated and critically acclaimed albums from Arcade Fire, The National, LCD Soundsystem and Broken Social Scene. Despite all the hype, these albums delivered in a big way and certainly did not disappoint (Sorry, I can’t say the same for M.I.A.’s third release, MAYA). Janelle Monae’s concept album, ArchAndroid, was also met with universal praises and “Tightrope” is definitely the most infectious track on that record.

The tracks from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Hot Chip and The Black Keys came off of albums that I would characterize as “breakout” records. I’ve been a fan of all these artists for some time and yet I feel that these 2010 albums, coupled with successful tour dates, really catapulted them to the next level of musical stardom.

Finally, I included some lesser known artists such as husband-and-wife duo Tennis who have perfected the seemingly ubiquitous lo-fi beach-pop sound that is all the rage these days. Also included is “The Gaudy Side of Town” from Gayngs, a huge collective that features over 25 artists ranging from Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon to Rhymesayers’ P.O.S., who succeed wildly in creating a haunting, downtempo aesthetic. Next, Caribou, AKA Dan Snaith and formerly known as Manitoba, crafts beautifully funky dance-pop on “Odessa,” somewhat reminiscent of LCD Soundsystem. And finally, not-so-newcomer, Ariel Pink’s “Round and Round” is a fun, slinky, 70s-infused psychedelic pop off a fantastic album, Before Today. You can hear Brian Eno and David Bowie’s fingerprints all over it, which is always a good thing.

May the rest of 2010 be as fruitful...

Give it a listen and I hope you enjoy.

Track listing:
1) Rome (3:50) – Yeasayer
2) I Learned The Hard Way (3:47) – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
3) I Can Change (5:54) – LCD Soundsystem
4) I Feel Better (4:42) – Hot Chip
5) The Suburbs (5:15) – Arcade Fire
6) The Gaudy Side of Town (7:07) – Gayngs
7) Shutterbug (3:35) – Big Boi feat Cutty
8) Bloodbuzz Ohio (4:36) – The National
9) Round and Round (5:09) – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
10) Cape Dory (2:12) – Tennis
11) Radio Daze (4:16) – The Roots feat Blu, P.O.R.N., Dice Raw
12) Everlasting Light (3:24) – The Black Keys
13) Tightrope (4:23) – Janelle Monae
14) Odessa (5:16) – Caribou
15) World Sick (6:48) – Broken Social Scene
16) The Wild Hunt (3:22) – The Tallest Man on Earth