Chromeo's New Sound

In the months leading up to this summer, electro-pop-funk band Chromeo has been (finally) changing up their sound a little bit. I've really enjoyed the stuff on their first album but after seeing their live show a few times, and realizing it never really changes, I'm glad to hear that they're trying something new.

For this tour / possible album release (not sure exactly what is happening), Chromeo has joined forces with Daryl Hall (of Hall & Oates fame). The two youtube videos that I'm posting offer new versions of both the Hall and Oates classic "No Can Do" and Chromeo's "Tenderoni".

Daryl Hall & Chromeo "Tenderoni" (music starts at 2:22) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaI0LWcYvnU&feature=related

Daryl Hall & Chromeo "No Can Do" (music starts at 3:50) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXXvUa5Tzco&feature=related

Good Morning! Featuring: Old And In the Way

Perfect music for Sunday morning. Old And In the Way is a bluegrass group featuring Jerry Garcia (banjo), Vassar Clements (fiddle), David Grisman (mandolin), John Kahn (acoustic bass), and Peter Rowan (guitar).

Old And In the Way "Catfish John" (That High Lonesome Sound, 1996) -

http://www.mediafire.com/?ywmwgdwxyzd

Old And In the Way "Hard Hearted" (That High Lonesome Sound, 1996) -

http://www.mediafire.com/?azdqjjzblia

Jimi Hendrix - "Machine Gun" live

Arguably the greatest guitar player in history rips a smokin' version of his classic anti-war tune. The man commands tremendous respect and does whatever the fuck he wants with his guitar. He's a pioneer that hasn't yet been bested.

Jimi Hendrix "Machine Gun" (Live) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZANxW4iFnk

The Roots of Metal

I'm not gonna pretend that I know a lot about this genre because I don't, but recently I've had a growing respect for it. From what I've gathered, Bad Brains and Exodus are considered to be some pretty solid oldschool metal. I like it and I hope you do too.

Bad Brains "I Against I" (I Against I, 1986) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjITD9LnwRY

Exodus "And Then There Were None" (Bonded By Blood, 1985) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a-Sh9Ik-lI

Sun Ra - Jazz In Silhouette

A nice introduction to the genius of Sun Ra. This album was recorded in Chicago and released in May of 1959. Brilliant jazz from the Arkestra in the time before they ventured into the realm of complete psychedelia.

Sun Ra and his Arkestra "Jazz in Silhouette, 1959" -

http://www.mediafire.com/?oiznzzq02nn

Stevie Wonder - "I Was Made to Love Her"

This one doesn't need any description. One of my favorite Stevie tracks.

Stevie Wonder "I Was Made to Love Her" (I Was Made to Love Her, 1967) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKzpaa9GIaM

http://www.mediafire.com/?kmrrkmonnug

Ladies and Gentlemen...Ween

Ween is my fucking jam...so get used to seeing them on this "blog" (I hate that word...is there a different term I could use to describe this site?). This band is talented, hilarious, and completely insane. I must admit that some of their stuff takes a little while to understand, but they really are a band that grows on you. One of the things that I really like about them is that they cannot be defined by genre. Over the course of this...blog...I will post evidence to support this claim.

Today, I'll start off with some of their more accessible material. The first clip is from a TV show filmed in 1993. Dean Ween (guitar) had this to say about the performance:

"This is one of my favorite tv clips of us. 'Pure guava' was still a new record and we had just written this song. I think this is one of our last performances as a duo. This was filmed early in the morning and we were very stoned."

Ween "Freedom of '76" (Live on the Jane Pratt Show, 1993) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzYykIA1xVg&feature=related

The second clip I want to post is of Ween playing their tune "Bananas and Blow" at a 2007 show in New York. The lyrics tell the story of a lovesick man who finds himself stuck on the beach with nothing but copious amounts of bananas and cocaine.

Ween "Bananas and Blow" (12/1/2007 Terminal 5, New York City) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY2cvXw2BnE

The last Ween track that I'm gonna post today is just a completely ridiculous studio outtake of a song called "Boys Club". Its just a fun tune that doesn't make much sense but for some reason never gets old.

Ween "Boys Club" (Shinola, 2005) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0lKVFcTZoA

Here are the youtube links for now, I will get some mp3 downloads up soon.

Return to Forever - "The Romantic Warrior"

Here's an afternoon treat from the world's ultimate "supergroup". I was lucky enough to attend a show with the original lineup (Chick Corea - keys, Al Di Meola - guitar, Stanley Clarke - bass, and Lenny White - drums) at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in 2008.

In some cases, supergroups aren't such a good thing...there's too much talent and not enough cohesion. Return to Forever, however, defied this predisposition. These guys could groove like no one else while still managing to retain their technicality. Loose but not sloppy, focused but experimental. Genius.

Return to Forever "The Romantic Warrior" (Live at the Old Grey Whistle Test 1976) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lObVilGPjHc

Return to Forever "The Romantic Warrior" (Romantic Warrior, 1976) -

http://www.mediafire.com/?neotln3emlt

Caribou - Swim

So far, I've gotta say that Caribou's Swim is my favorite album of the year. Caribou is the alter-ego of Dan Snaith, a Canadian electronic musician and producer. Math guy by day (he received his PhD in mathematics from London's Imperial College), Snaith has spent his nights creating his own brand of electronic music.

His mix of authentic analog instruments, intelligently used studio effects, and consistently relevant vocals has worked to produce rave reviews from both loyal fans and first time listeners. Critics have also been impressed by the release; Resident Advisor's Derek Miller gave the album 4 stars and described it as "A mesmeric aural delight, as perplexing as it is instantly engaging."

I've decided to post the youtube link to Swim's opening track "Odessa", as well as the mediafire link to a zipped file of the entire album.

Caribou "Odessa" (Swim, 2010) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq_tDOFU5tY

Caribou - Swim, 2010

http://www.mediafire.com/?ewomyinnljr

Can - "Oh Yeah"

Can is a group that I don't know much about, but I've really enjoyed the stuff that I've heard. They are a German "experimental rock" band that formed in 1968. I first discovered Can when listening to a podcast from Gilles Peterson's radio program on BBC Radio 1. I consider Gilles to be a guy with great musical taste, and I highly recommend his program to anyone who finds the music that I post in this blog to be interesting. Here is a link to his BBC homepage:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006wq8d

The track that I have selected from Can is entitled "Oh Yeah" and can be found on their 1971 release Tago Mago. Except for the drum beat (which remains consistent throughout), the track changes direction at the 3:14 mark. Give it a listen and see what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49PvnYCKZkM

http://www.mediafire.com/?mjcjyzkewiz

Talking Heads - Live in Rome 1980

Required viewing for any Talking Heads fan. Live video from their 1980 Rome show which includes Adrian Belew (King Crimson) absolutely ripping shit up on guitar. I love the fact that the stage setup is very stripped down and leaves the focus to rest solely on the music. The lineup for the show is as follows: David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, Jerry Harrison, Steve Scales, Bernie Worrell, Dolette MacDonald, Buster Jones and Adrian Belew.

The three tracks that I have selected fully exhibit the Heads' distinct style and attitude. If you like these clips make sure to check out the rest of the show which is available on youtube and for download from other sites.

Talking Heads "Crosseyed & Painless" (Live in Rome, 1980) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6g8lFmsCXhg&feature=related

Talking Heads "Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" (Live in Rome, 1980) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVIKF03KkVM&feature=related

Talking Heads "The Great Curve" (Live in Rome, 1980) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RlZ4-ZbRog&feature=related

Two tracks from Gil Scott-Heron

Gil Scott-Heron is known by many as "the Godfather of Rap". He was born in Chicago in 1949 but has spent most of his life living and recording in New York City. Both a poet and a musician, Scott-Heron has influenced generations of artists and social activists alike. LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy recently dedicated the group's set at the 2010 Coachella festival to Scott-Heron. Murphy, like many other artists, claims that Gil is one of LCD's greatest influences.

Earlier this year, Scott-Heron has released a new album, entitled I'm New Here. I wanted to post a couple tracks from Gil, one from the 1971 album Pieces of a Man, and another from I'm New Here. Make sure you listen to both of them...you'll be amazed at how different they are.

Gil Scott-Heron "Home Is Where the Hatred Is" (Pieces of a Man, 1971) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOUMvjw9RlA&feature=related

http://www.mediafire.com/?k23tyzmnjmo

Gil Scott-Heron "Me and the Devil" (I'm New Here, 2010) -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEbdi-_FJVo

http://www.mediafire.com/?fy3dmuxozoo

Hello

Hi guys. I finally decided to make my own music blog. I named it after one of my favorite songs (Radiohead's "Reckoner"), because it exemplifies the type of music that I'm interested in sharing with everyone. I'm not necessarily saying that all the tracks I post will sound like Reckoner, because they definitely won't, but they will be music that I feel is from the soul.

I will do my best to post at least one track per day. I will also try to include both a streaming youtube link, as well as an mp3 download.

For the first post: Radiohead's "Reckoner":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSvhtIbyucQ&feature=related

http://www.mediafire.com/?wgxm5zgmndk

In this particular case, the youtube link is a video of Reckoner being played at a 2008 live show in Tokyo. I encourage you to not only watch that video, but to download the mp3 from the mediafire link as well. The mp3 is the studio version of Reckoner off of the album In Rainbows.

Thanks for checking this site out and I hope you enjoy the music!