BlueBeat.com

The Funk Don't Stop

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:26:42 PDT

In the late 90s, DJs and producers in search of the next hot drum sample discovered the world of rare funk 45s. Records that had been forgotten in dusty basements around the U.S. were rediscovered by intrepid DJ/collectors. Soon a new generation of musicians began recording music inspired by the rare funk grooves.Ten years later, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are at the forefront of the movement, with their devotion to old-school analog recording; Australia's The Bamboos rule that continent; and Quantic and El Michels Affair are taking the style in new directions. The new DJ Crate Deep Funk Revival has the complete collections from these artists and others.Want to hear the original 45 rpm records? Check out Rare Soul & Funk Comps selected by greenbongo- he's dusted 'em off so you won't get yourself dirty!

New Wave In the Lounge

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:20:17 PDT

The French group Nouvelle Vague takes their favorite songs of the New Wave era and performs them as cool, loungey Bossa Nova tracks. Boasting a line-up of like-minded artists (Anja Garbarek, Camille) as guest vocalists, the recipe makes for some unique flavor. They have also released some excellentcompilations, selecting some of the artists and tunes that inform their sound, like Soundtrack greats Michel Legrand, Lalo Schifrin, and Ennio Morricone. Now you can check out the group (and their friends) in the new self-explanatory DJ Crate Nouvelle Vague from Waxsmith. Ooh-la-la!

Album Review: DooDoo Face by Wallpaper

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:47:52 PDT

In the words of Wallpaper's Ricky Reed, "The Doodoo Face is about funk music, man. When something's hella funky, it just makes you do a Doodoo Face, man, like somethin' stank."

Ricky Reed is the alter-ego of SF Bay Area-based musician Eric Frederic. Along with his drummer Arjun Singh, Wallpaper has assembled one of the most compelling satires of modern popular music in countless years. His nuanced approach to incorporating 80's funk with modern urban electronic styles is quite impressive, leaving the listener gloriously incapable of staying off the dance floor. All of the great legends of dance music from the 70s-80s are represented and reinvented; P-Funk, Zapp & Roger, Michael Jackson, Bay Area Funk, Bay Area Rap.

I've found it crucial to view this record as an exceptionally deliberate parody of the widely inorganic and inauthentic pop music that's popular today. But instead of rejecting the style, both in terms of the writing and over-the-top production, Wallpaper has embraced it in a deeply ironic fashion. The excessive use of Auto-Tune, the lush and funky synthesizers, the self-aware egocentric lyrics and the heavy, danceable beats all add up to a single question. Is Ricky Reed insane, brilliant, or just plain silly? Check out Wallpaper on BlueBeat.com, or check out their official blog for more.

Tracks to pay attention to:
T Rex
I Got Soul, I'm So Wasted
DDD
DooDoo Face

Brand New, Good For You

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:40:47 PDT

Having trouble wading through the flood of new releases & additions? Not sure where to start? We've got your solution right here, in the DJ Crate BlueBeat Fresh. Listen in for a cream-of-the-crop selection of albums as they are added to the BlueBeat.com Catalog. You'll hear a grab bag of genres, from the songwriter (and American Idol) Brooke White, Indie Rock with Bitte Orca from The Dirty Projectors, and electro-hipster Amanda Blank's I Love You. Neo-Soul pioneer Maxwell is back with the popular BLACKsummers'night, and French Electronica artist Krazy Baldhead has his first full-length release out, The B Suite. These titles and plenty more of the latest and greatest are in BlueBeat Fresh

Remastering the Masters

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:20:37 PDT

Beatles fans around the world celebrated 9/09/09 as the groups classic albums were re-released in newly-remastered editions. This might not seem like big news, but the Beatles catalog had previously only been available in an inferior 1987 version. While in recent years even the most obscure groups have gotten reissued, these classic albums begged for an upgrade.The most exciting part is the CD release of the original mono mixes, as a limited-edition boxed set. These mixes were done with much care and input from the band, while the more familiar stereo mixes were often rushed to market. Listen to the new remasters here on BlueBeat in the new DJ Crate The Beatles: Old Masters Remastered. It's all there (including the rare Mono Box Set), plus the most current releases by the Fab Four like Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison.

A Man and His Rug

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:37:47 PDT

The new DJ Crate The Dude Abides... is more than another film-inspired playlist, it's a lifestyle, man. At the time of it's release, the movie The Big Lebowski was not a silver-screen hit, but over the years it gradually achieved cult status.

The story centers around iconic California slacker "The Dude", who gets tangled up in a noir-ish L.A. caper worthy of Raymond Chandler, all because of a soiled rug. Hardcore fans gather (dressed as their favorite character) for a weekend of bowling and White Russians in the convention known as Lebowskifest. Get ready for this year's fest (coming soon to a city near you) with tunes from Creedence Clearwater Revival, Esquivel, and of course, The Man In Me by Bob Dylan.

Original Guitar Hero

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:15:14 PDT

BlueBeat takes a moment to remember Les Paul, after his unfortunate passing last week. His lightning-fast licks gave him a string of pop hits in the 1950s, but his style was difficult to categorize. Inspired by the sound of Django Reinhardt, he was a virtuoso jazz player who threw in riffs from country and pop. As a musician, he had a huge influence on generations of guitarists from every genre. But the guitar picking was just one side to Les Paul; his endless tinkering led to technical developments that had a huge impact on record production.A pioneer of multi-track recording (layering instruments on top of one another), creating various reverb and echo effects,and of course the design of guitars themselves, we remember an American original in the DJ Crate Les Paul.

Electric Gypsies

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:51:56 PDT

Gypsy and Balkan music is back, this time in clubs around the world. It used to be that the gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt practically defined the whole genre; nowadays, Eastern European traditions mix with punk (Gogol Bordello) hip-hop and club music (Balkan Beat Box, Shantel) in the new crate from greenbongo, Balkan & Gypsy Groove. Another thread in this tradition is interwoven with the story of immigrants who came to the U.S. in the early 20th century, and recorded klezmer music released on rare 78 rpm records. The past 20 years or so has seen a revival by current bands The Klezmatics and New Klezmer Trio, and that's been compiled by SweeneytheMad in the DJ Crate SweeneytheMad's Klezmer Bash. Old traditions meet the Brave New World!

Tex-Mex Acid Test

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:10:32 PDT

Tex-mex legend Doug Sahm is probably best-known for the 60s hits She's About a Mover and Mendocino, but he left a lasting imprint on the Texas music scene. Combining Cajun, British Invasion, Conjunto,and Psychedelic, his group Sir Douglas Quintet thrashed their way from San Antonio to the Haight for the Summer of Love. The new DJ Crate Doug Sahm-Texas Tornado has a hefty helping of his musical Texas chili-but be careful, it might be spiked!

Lazy Sundays

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:21:07 PDT

Here at BlueBeat we have all of the latest popular music, from Rock to Electronic and in between. But we also have a deep catalog of older recordings, and a new crate from moongirl61 showcases some great releases in Classical. Check out Moongirl61's CLASSICAL for great performances from Pablo Casals (JS Bach: Cello Suites Nos.1-6), Itzhak Perlman (Paganini: 24 Caprices), and Aldo Ciccolini (Satie: Popular Piano Works). It's "Sunday morning music" that sounds good any old time.

Boogie in Your Bones

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:21:28 PDT

We've all heard of "tickling the ivories", a phrase that evokes the gentle touch of jazz and classical piano performers. Let's not forget some of the piano players who pounded the keys with the rhythms of boogie-woogie: from stride piano legends like James P Johnson and Pinetop Perkins to jazz pioneers Art Tatum and Mary Lou Williams, these folks knew how to rock. The DJ crate Boogie and Stride Piano takes you time-traveling back to a 1920's speakeasy for the sounds that helped paved the way for R&B. And if that's not enough to satisfy your piano itch, there's Piano Roll Blues from misterfathersir, with more from the legends of the 88s.

Ladies of the Canyon

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:58:25 PDT

A new DJ Crate from markcart focuses on some of the great women singer-songwriters in Rock and Folk. Lovely Ladies has favorites Joni Mitchell and Linda Ronstadt, and features some classic albums like Rumours (Fleetwood Mac) and Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack). Listen in and hear the best from the ladies of popular music.

Long Live the King

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:07:41 PDT

BlueBeat has just received news that the King of Pop Michael Jackson has died at age 50. Jackson was one of the most popular entertainers of the 20th century, fromearly hits with The Jackson 5 to his breakout performance on the Motown 25th Anniversary TV Special. While he was consideredeccentric and even bizarre in his private life, we remember his achievements in popular music with the tribute DJ Crate Michael Jackson-King of Pop. This crate features the best of MJ, with a few cuts by Janet Jackson, The Jacksons, and covers like Human Nature by Miles Davis and Alien Ant Farm's Smooth Criminal. Even though he has passed, he will always be the King of Pop.

Schools Out!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:32:58 PDT

OK, everybody, it's time for a Pop Quiz! Don't worry, it's not the kind you used to dread back in school. This new crate is like a textbook on the best from the current Pop charts. With new rock albums like 21st Century Breakdown by Green Day and When The World Comes Down by The All-American Rejects, the latest club sounds from T.I. and Lady Gaga, and country from the ever-popular Taylor Swift, this crate hits all the right spots. Find out what makes these albums the blockbusters of today!

Ode to Love Songs

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:57:08 PDT

Oh grievous despair,
full of madness,
endless languor and cursed life.
I can neither be healed nor die!
We lament to a love lost
or rejoice for a love found.
But wait...what good fortune!
A DJ Crate for the tender-hearted:
Chansons d'Amour,
delighting us
with the wonderful art music of the European Renaissance.