Interim Post

So, the move to DC is all accomplished. What has not been accomplished is getting the internet in our new place. We're making do at a local internet cafe, but I won't be able to do any real in-depth posts until the situation is resolved. As a stopgap, this is a link I put together to document my law school experience. Some of you may already be familiar with it, but if new folks have found their way to the blog, or you missed it the first time feel free to check it out. Enjoy.

Strictly Liable version 2.0

A Glimpse Of The Future

One of the most exciting things about the now impending move to DC is the exponential increase in exciting live music options. Not that Iowa City has been bad to me, but a major metropolitan center the IC is not. So when we were out in DC, the other JD and I got a taste of what's to come, and it was mighty impressive.

Femi Kuti is the son of legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, and continues in the vein of the genre his father created, Afro-beat. While I am a huge fan of Fela, Femi's albums had failed to grab me quite as strongly-but the live show was freaking incredible. Freed from the constraints of the studio versions, his songs took on a tremendous rollicking groove, aided by Femi's enormous charisma. So I was incredibly excited to get back and find a live record of his for download on Emusic (and also for sale as a CD/DVD(!) on Amazon). Check out my favorite track below.

Femi Kuti - 1, 2, 3, 4

(PS - due to the annoying ads on z-share, I've switched to divshare; click on the link on the right side of the page to download the file)

W-A-S-H-I-N-G-T-O-N, baby, D-C!

The Magnetic Fields - Washington, D.C.

So in explanation for my absence, the other JD & I were out in the titular city finding ourselves a place to stay post-August 1st. And fortunately we did. After pounding the pavement for several days we lucked into getting our top choice. Now if only we had jobs....

Anyway, in honor of the impending move I wanted to post some D.C.-centric stuff. I don't know much go go, so I decided to go with the Magnetic Fields track above (off the grandiose 69 Love Songs album) and a couple of tracks from the only D.C. rapper I know (but who I really dig) - Wale. So here he is on remixes of a couple of songs you may have heard somewhere before, if you've been say, breathing. Both these tracks are featured on his mixtape with Nick Catchdubs 100 Miles & Running, which is available for free download in full here.

Amy Winehouse feat. Wale - Rehab (Mark Ronson DC Remix)

Lily Allen feat. Wale - Smile (Mark Ronson DC Remix)

Electronic Pleasures, 3 Dollars A Pop

Few things bring me as much bittersweet joy as a record store's going out of business sale--the possibility of enormous short term savings versus the long term loss of a possibly valuable source of music. Fortunately, I've only been around big chain stores that lost their grip, while the mom & pop (or more often just pop) stores I've known have survived. Recently, a record store in the area had a large sale on electronic music due to a change of location and, sensing opporunity, I swooped in. While I'm still making my way through the haul, I was immediately excited by a Promo 2 x 12" for Beth Orton's Daybreaker album featuring remixes from Adrian Sherwood, Two Lone Swordsmen, & the almighty Four Tet. And I was pleasantly suprised by the Two Lone Swordsmen Remix of "Anywhere", which really brings a nice electro pulse to the typically serene Beth Orton vocal. Check it out below.

Beth Orton - Anywhere (Two Lone Swordsmen Remix)

And the other JD has taken the opportunity to offer a pick of the week as well, and went with the full (11+ minutes!) version of the Four Tet Remix of "Carmella". I've long been a disciple of Four Tet, who creates epic jams unlike any other, so I have no qualms about posting it either.

Beth Orton - Carmella (Four Tet Remix)

PS - If you haven't heard Beth Orton's Central Reservation and/or Best Bit EP, they carry the full A Plus recommendation.

Daft Lounge

I believe there's a special circle in hell reserved for whoever came up with the concept of the piano lounge. As the other JD has noted, I didn't really get the singalong gene in my genetic inheritance, and I'd rather repeatedly impact my skull with a solid surface than listen to butchered versions of popular staples. Now the dude at the one last night was a decent enough dude, working hard and with some eclectic songs mixed in his repertoire (Flaming Lips, Neutral Milk Hotel, though with a disturbing amount of Phish). To amuse myself, I thought of the one song I would have easily tipped a hundred bucks to hear him play, that being "Harder Better Faster Stronger". Imagine that, hearing some random dude in piano bar USA playing a solo version of the ultimate Daft Punk song...anyway, in honor of this thought, and after having spent last night and today immersing myself in the work of the robots, I give you this:

Daft Punk - "Teachers (Extended Version)"

All Hail The Pharoahe!

Um, no, not this one, cool as all that business is. Rather, I am referring to the one and only Pharoahe Monch, 1/2 of Organized Konfusion and creator of my favorite Godzilla-related song of all time. I mean, that Wallflowers cover of "Heroes" kind of introduced me to Bowie, so that's not all bad. But "Simon Says" is the jam.

Anyway, Monch has a new album, Desire, out today, which I picked up but haven't had the chance to listen to yet. But in honor of the new record, here's an incredible freestyle of his from the pre-album mixtape The Awakening over one of my all time favorite beats, the Pete Rock Mixx of PE's "Shut 'Em Down". Oh yeah, as with most hip-hop I'll post here, the language may not be suitable for all environments.

Pharoahe Monch - Shut 'Em Down Freestyle

The Inaugural

So, here it is, another mp3 blog. I hope to at least do it well.

For this first post, I'm highlighting three finds from the 25-cent 45 bin at a Half Price Books in Indianapolis, all primed for some summertime listening. Let me know what you think.

The Impressions - Check Out Your Mind

First off is some blistering psychedelic funk from the master, Curtis Mayfield. "Check Out Your Mind" was the title track from Mayfield's last LP with the Impressions before embarking on a storied solo career. It's an anti-dope (though still, uh, dope) song, featuring a sales pitch for your own mind. I hadn't heard the track before, but as soon as I saw the label I was guessing it was a winner. Thankfully, I was right.

Dave & Ansell Collins - Double Barrel (Instrumental)

Another find I was immediately excited by. "Double Barrel" is well-deserving of its rocksteady/reggae classic status, and I was hoping for some kind of dub workout on the b-side. It's actually just a straight instrumental of the a-side, though fortunately it keeps the whole "I...am the maginificent" intro bit. While the vocal is a great bit of nonsensical early DJ toasting, the instrumental highlights the dueling keyboards vibe of the piano vs. the funky organ. All around goodness.

Shabba Ranks - Original Woman

This last one was the big surprise. Using the same Shelly Manne loop as Jeru da Damaja & DJ Premeir's uber-classic "Come Clean," but placing it in a hip-hop/dancehall context, Shabba crafts a solid pro-woman anthem, at least from what I can make out of the words.