Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Very Best

One album I missed enumerating on my 2008 list, and should probably be sentenced to torture by Dave Matthews* for forgetting to mention is Esau Mwamwaya (vocals) and Radioclit's (beats) collaboration mixtape, The Very Best. Inspired by his Malawian roots, and maybe in smaller doses, his immigration to Britain in '99, Esau has gone from bakery worker, to construction hand, to second-hand furniture store owner, sustaining his musical passion inspired in adolescence throughout. FADER did an amazing profile piece on "The African Phil Collins" that should be considered required reading.


You might hear some familiar sounds on The Very Best. For instance, Mwamwaya's reworking of Vampire Weekend's smash "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," M.I.A.'s "Boyz, and " Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There." His catchfest track "Tengazako" - translated in English to mean "Take What's Yours" - is nothing but beautiful vocals over M.I.A.'s Clash-sampling "Paper Planes." Still not convinced this is a must have? Check out some live videos of Esau performing for last.fm below / kicking it with Radioclit and other cool cats and try, just try not to get addicted.

Tengazako Live


Messing Around / Beat Sampling / Hanging with Radioclit and Ezra (Vamp Weekend)


Secousse Live


He can't stop smiling. I can't stop smiling. The second vid of Esau messing around with beats, world instruments, different house guests, all from some obscure apartment inspires me. That's exactly how I want my life to be: A 7-day a week informal recording studio where friends stop by my unglamorous house and we just cut crazy tracks. 

Check out The Very Best MySpace for a Completely FREE Album Download. Do it.

Peace, Love and Bringin' World MusicBack,
LtK

* In case of offense: Dave Matthews is a perfectly nice /amazing human being. He lives in Seattle which definitely = smart. He just happens to make music I dislike (with a passion). Feel free to disagree with me on this one; most of America does. iTunes may have his total song count at 250, but as far as GDM is concerned, he's made the same song 250 times. 

Friday, January 30, 2009

C-O-A-C-H-E-L-L-A

It's that time of year. Well 76 days off actually. But it's time to start obsessing about the newly-released lineup of 10-yr music festival alum: Coachella. I don't think this year's slew of talent could disappoint if they tried. I have never wanted to go so badly - and on every single day. I won't even get into my favorites because the list would look something like the entire line-up. LOVES it. Now.... who is going to be my date?
3 Day Passes = $269
Single Day Passes = $99

Remember, these suckers sell out. Fast.

FRIDAY APRIL 17: Paul McCartney, Morrissey, Franz Ferdinand, Leonard Cohen, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Beirut, The Black Keys, Girl Talk, Silversun Pickups, The Ting Tings, The Crystal Method, Ghostland Observatory, Crystal Castles, The Airborne Toxic Event, We Are Scientists, N.A.S.A., Patton & Rahzel, M. Ward, The Presets, The Hold Steady, A Place to Bury Strangers, Felix da Housecat, Buraka Som Sistema, Ryan Bingham, Bajofondo, Peanut Butter Wolf, Noah & the Whale, White Lies, The Bug, Alberta Cross, Los Campesinos!, Craze & Klever, Molotov, Switch, Gui Boratto, Steve Aoki, The Aggrolites, People Under the Stairs, The Courteeners, Cage the Elephant, Dear and the Headlights.

SATURDAY, APRIL 18: The Killers, Amy Winehouse, Thievery Corporation, TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, MSTRKRFT, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Atmosphere, Mastodon, TRAV$DJ-AM, Henry Rollins, Crookers, Turbonegro, Hercules and Love Affair, Superchunk, Glasvegas, Dr. Dog, Drive-By Truckers, Booker T & the DBT’s, Amanda Palmer, The Bloody Beetroots, Surkin, Para One (Live), Calexico, Liars, Bob Mould Band, Zane Lowe, Electric Touch, Blitzen Trapper, James Morrison, Drop the Lime, Glass Candy, Thenewno2, Gang Gang Dance, Billy Talent, Ida Maria, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Zizek, Cloud Cult, Tinariwen.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19: The Cure, My Bloody Valentine, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Throbbing Gristle, Lupe Fiasco, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn and John, X, Antony & the Johnsons, Roni Size, Public Enemy, Jenny Lewis, Groove Armada, Paolo Nutini, Christopher Lawrence, Lykke Li, The Kills, Okkervil River, M.A.N.D.Y., Clipse, Sebastien Tellier, Fucked Up, Perry Farrell, The Horrors, Late of the Pier, K’naan, Junior Boys, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Supermayer, No Age, Vivian Girls, Shepard Fairey, Themselves, Gaslight Anthem, The Knux, Mexican Institute of Sound, The Night Marchers, Marshall Barnes.

P, L, and Leonard/Morrissey/McCartney same-day magic,
LTK

P.S. Stay tuned for a Coachella 09 Mixtape. Maybe I'll even break it down to a day-by-day three parter.

Picture


A picture is worth six words: Flight of the Conchords' tour dates.
P.S. Dear Bret and Jemaine, you're more smokin' than a chimney.

Apr 12 2009 8:00P
Paramount Theatre Seattle, Washington


May 11 2009 8:00P
Paramount Theatre Seattle, Washington
May 12 2009 8:00P
Paramount Theatre Seattle, Washington



Come out and support the Sub Pop success. Whether you're riding the love train, or simply don't get their humor, the boys still know how to put on a live show. You have my completely meaningless, non-binding guarantee.

P, L, and New Zealand Kiwis,
LTK

Major Label Debut

N.A.S.A.'s Spirit of Apollo officially leaked yesterday and holy S this one is as mind-blowing as I thought it would be. I'm psyched to have tickets for their March 3rd show at the Nectar Lounge. I would have a heart attack at 21 if Tom Waits decided to fly up from Sonoma County, CA and special guest star. Probably not gonna happen. But these tracks are. RIGHT NOW.

Spirit of Apollo Track Listing
1. Intro
2. The People Tree (feat. David Byrne, Chali 2na, Gift Of Gab & Z-Trip)
3. Money (feat. David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge, & Z-Trip)
4. N.A.S.A. Music (feat. Method Man, E-40, & DJ Swamp)
5. Way Down (feat. RZA, Barbie Hatch, & John Frusciante)
6. Hip Hop (feat. KRS-One, Fatlip, & Slim Kid Tre)
7. Four Rooms, Earth View
8. Strange Enough (feat. Karen O, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, & Fatlip) [mp3]
9. Spacious Thoughts (feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith)
10. Gifted (feat. Kanye West, Santogold & Lykke Li) [mp3]
11. A Volta (feat. Sizzla, Amanda Blank, & Lovefoxxx)
12. There’s A Party (feat. George Clinton & Chali 2na)
13. Whachadoin? (feat. Spank Rock, M.I.A., Santogold, & Nick Zinner)
14. O Pato (feat. Kool Kojak & DJ Babão)
15. Samba Soul (feat. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien & DJ Qbert) [mp3]
16. The Mayor (feat. The Cool Kids, Ghostface Killah, Scarface & DJ AM) [mp3]
17. N.A.S.A. Anthem

"Strange Enough" is blowing my mind. But it February 17th. DO IT.

Peace, Love, and F'in Amazingness,
LTK

Sweetheart

Howard Schultz is taking a salary cut everyone. Stop the presses, close schools, alert the freaking media. Oh, wait, we've already done all that. Our fearless Starbucks leader will be working for a measly $10,000 in 2009. What's a CEO/International mogul to do?! Wait, I know. Sleep with the ten million dollars you made last year under your pillow Ho-Scho, and all those pesky nightmares of lower/working class life will instantly disappear. Booking a flight to the Bahamas on your private jet = Plan B.

Even when we're closing 200 U.S. stores, and firing tons of the corporate crew, S-Bux still manages to put together a decent compilation. They say the coffeehouse must go on. Just in time for V-Day, Starbucks has released it's annual sugar-free audio treat Sweetheart, which is this year, surprisingly tasty. (Editor's note: sugar-free sucks. I will make a face at you if you order that chemical-filled, aspartame-enhanced drugfest from me.) She & Him, DeVotchka, Death Cab, A.C. Newman, Ben Bridwell and others cover their favorite love songs and all I can do is just smile. Even Katy Perry couldn't suck this CD up.


Track Listing
01. Death Cab for Cutie - Love Song (The Cure Cover)
02. Katy Perry - Black and Gold (Sam Sparro Cover)
03. DeVotchka - Hot Burrito # 1 [I'm Your Toy] (Flying Burrito Brothers Cover)
05. Jessica Lee Mayfield - Words of Love (Buddy Holly Cover)
06. Ben Bridwell - Your Love is Forever (George Harrison Cover)
07. Kate Tucker - I'm On Fire (Bruce Springsteen Cover)
08. Rogue Wave - Maps (Yeah Yeah Yeahs Cover)
10. Jem - Yellow (Coldplay Cover)
11. Richard Hawley - Early Morning Rain (Gordon Lightfoot Cover)
12. Daniel Martin Moore - I Hear Music (Billie Holiday Cover)
14. Lila Downs - My One and Only Love (Frank Sinatra Cover)

Death Cab fans, you might already have a copy of "Love Song," but not this quality. Ben seemed pretty excited about it's formal release. Rogue Wave's choice was definitely ambitious. Although they can't touch the haunting vocal magic of Karen O., their effort is certainly admirable. 

As for my favorites, I have to give it up for my man A.C., who continues his lighthearted/I-don't-take-everything-indie-so-seriously approach by picking an awesomely bad eighties song to re-record. We all know I'm IN LOVE with Ben Bridwell, so of course "Your Love is Forever" resonates. And Department of Eagles/Grizzly Bear genius Daniel Rossen certainly has me calling on cupid (I'm totally bias after seeing him in concert this week). Finally, Zooey D kills it with "I Put a Spell on You". Much like Jay's original, it's all about the unnerving vocal power. You might think you're listening to a'capella. Anyone else hoping that when she and Ben Gibbard get married they will form the ultimate indie-rock alliance and just record kickass demos out of their basement? A girl can dream...

Peace, Love, and Full of REAL Sugar Valentines,
LTK 

Monday, January 12, 2009

Not Your Mama's Top 25 of 2008

So I waited until the dust had settled on 2008 to make my "Best Of" List. (Started this post on Jan 12 and am just now finishing on Jan 28). Majority of the blogosphere has been pretty pushy with their picks this year - pretentious is another word you might use. So I am prefacing this countdown by saying these are absolutely MY (subjective) opinions; or the albums I enjoyed the most, and which saw the most spins on my iPod. I also tried to consider what music I'd still be listening to in twenty years. Alas, Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III didn't make the cut.


Feel free to disagree. That's the beauty of art. One person's Picasso is another person's carbon copy waiting room art, (although I don't think anyone is disputing the genius of Picasso).  I can't say I agree with half of Rolling Stone's Top 50, and several picks by Pitchfork, Mojo, and other big name publications made me cringe. Hate it or Love it here it is (in no particular order):

Sidenote: I was going to explain the awesomeness of each, but I wrote eight descriptions and plum tuckered myself out. So just know that every album is purchase worthy. Seriously.

1. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
My Facebook status on September 16, 2008 (the release of Dear Science)? "TV on the Radio just saved this year in music." Light Years ahead of their time, TVOTR has hit a stride many other artists can only aspire to. With music that is politically aware, socially relevant, genre-blending and breaking with satirical ease, these fab five embody the "Brooklyn: We go hard" sentiment. I couldn't have asked for more in a single release.

TV on the Radio - Family Tree

2. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Anthem after generational anthem, this record refuses to quit. Completely enjoyable and conceptually advanced, MGMT restored the cool factor to synthesizers in 2008. "Time to Pretend" refused to leave my Top Play Count, and it is physically impossible to suppress the urge to dance when "Kids" blares over my speakers. Whether this album was released to psychedelic hippies in the 1970's or new-wave electro/glam rockers in the 1980's, it would have been a success. Lucky for us, the chosen generation, Oracular made 2008 Spectacular. 


3. Hot Chip - Made in the Dark
Perhaps I'm biased on this one, because I've loved every minute of Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard's British electro-pop genius since their 2004 debut, Coming on Strong. Something tells me it's not just my obsession with the quirky quintet however, that makes this record a non-stop dancathon. It could be their legendary live performances, fearless beats, or poetic (and often hilarious) lyricism that sets them apart, but for me, it's been watching this hipster band evolve from melodic darlings into full-on party-starting sensations. 


4. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Gotta love the Seattle Sub Pop indie superstars who made a HUGE splash with their self-titled release. Despite emerging artist status, Fleet Foxes secured themselves a permanent place on many a record shelf, as evidenced by their #53 placement in KEXP's Top 903 Listener Favorites. That's all-time favorite albums people! They beat out Portishead's Dummy, R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People, and Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, among 800 plus others. Although time will be the true test of sustainability, the melodic arrangements and folksy chords of "White Winter Hymnal" and "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" are sure to remain in my heart.


5. Santogold - Santogold
"Here all the folks ask about me / Band wagon, know they used to doubt me / Blind side tends to hit real hard / You should heed the warning, get a body guard." With lyrics that don't just bite, but rather devour you with wit, cynicism, and brash honesty, Santi White turned more than a few heads last year. Rolling Stone called her "One 'Paper Planes' away from being the new M.I.A." which I found slightly offensive, because despite the similarities in some African beat derivation, the two artists have completely unique styles. For instance, White brings her former punk rock front-woman experience to the table. Not all female hip-hop hipsters are the same RS. Bottom Line: An amazing record from start to finish.


6. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
Everything Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney touches turns to garage R&B classic. I don't what they're drinking in the water over in Akron, OH that allowed two midwest white boys to channel all the soulful pain and heartache of blues masters like James Brown. But won't we all just lose out if they stop drinking the Kool Aid. Attack and Release is yet another example of this band's staying power. It doesn't hurt to have a lil' Danger Mouse production touch either. 


7. BB King - One Kind Favor
Chalk full of stunning tracks from a timeless master, One Kind Favor is a clear reminder why 83-year old King is still the unequivocal blues man. BB King fans are treated to more of what we love, and newcomers get a down to earth, gritty introduction to greatness. 

BB King - I Get So Weary

8. Diplo / Santogold - Top Ranking (Mixtape)
If you're not excited for Diplo's upcoming release Decent Work for Decent Pay (Collected Works Volume One) then take another look at this masterpiece. Two of the industries most buzzed about acts team up to rework their own genius, as well as classic tracks by The Clash, The Dixie Cups, and The B-52's, among others. Top Ranking seems a most appropriate title for this dance floor blitz. 


9. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
10. Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
11. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig!!!
12. David Byrne and Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
13. The Clash - Live at Shea Stadium
14. The Kills - Midnight Boom
15. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
16. Beach House - Devotion
17. Mr. Oizo - Lamb's Anger
18. Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
19. Bon Iver - For Emma, Long Ago
20. Portishead - The Third
21. Sons and Daughters - This Gift
22. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
23. Tim Fite - Fair Ain't Fair
24. The Bug - London Zoo
25. Sigur Ros - Med Sud i Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

Runners - Up: 
1. Lykke Li - Youth Novels
2. Sam Sparro - Black and Gold
3. French Kicks - Swimming
4. The Knux - Remind Me in Three Days
5. Mavis Staples - Hope at the Hideout: Live
6. Wale - Mixtape About Nothing
7. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
8. Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8
9. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
10. Bonnie " Prince" Billy - Lie Down in the Light

Fell Short of Expectiations/Didn't Match the Hype (Not saying I didn't still enjoy):
1. Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
2. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
3. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
4. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
5. Brian Wilson - That Lucky Old Sun

Feel free to tell me my picks suck, I'd do the same for you. Just give a reason why. Also, if you're the umpteenth person to be up in arms about Kings of Leon, go ahead, fight me. I've got a black belt in irresolvable conflict. Plus I've been a huge fan since Youth and Young Manhood so I've got plenty of reasoning stockpiled in my arsenal .


Peace, Love, and 2008 Closure,
LTK

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Missing

... That's what Chris Holmes is from my music collection: (sort of) missing. Because he refuses to go corporate - the nerve of artistic integrity! - and whore the heck out of his EP, Get Yer Yum-Yum's Out! One must settle for buying individual songs off his MySpace, which I have shamelessly done.


Although not everyone will see fireworks when spinning this gem, something about it is relentlessly comforting. The quirky electronica paired with Chris's tranquil delivery is like turning on audio Xanax; my anxiety is instantly subdued without all the pesky withdrawal symptoms of Alprazolam. Chris is good friends with Josh Radin, which after you listen to this track, completely makes sense. Holmes produced Radin's 4-star (Rolling Stone) debut We Were Here, as well as his duet with indie darling/occasional actress Schuyler Fisk, "Paperweight" off The Last Kiss Soundtrack.

You won't find this one many places, so show it some love.

I take it all in instead of writing it down
Trying to find a way to get out of this town
Searching for contact
Waiting on the last act
Biding my time because I'll never be back
Hoping to find that I'm one of a kind
Willing to settle for some piece of mind
I'm gonna sail to China
Or move to Carolina
Find myself some peace
And take myself some time to fall
And I'll fall, And I'll fall
For the first pretty girl
I'll give her my heart and I'll make her my world
And we'll dance

All we live and all we are
And all our lives we're all unsure
All we do and all we see
And all we want and all we need
All we feel and all we know
And all we hide and all we show
All we take and all we give
And all we die and all we live
(Repeat)


If you can't tell, I'm in love with the highlighted portion. Or maybe just relate too much. Book me a one-way ticket to Hong Kong.

P, L, and Yum-Yums,
LTK

Jason



Slow down, you are out of control
One of us is right, and one of us is wrong
And, I know that you're not coming home
There's nowhere to park, after it gets dark, yeah
Can't tell what I want when you sing
So keep it to yourself, I haven't missed anything

You are my voice, my microphone
You are my voice, so take me on
You are my voice

Slow down, you are out of control
It could be so easy if it didn't feel so wrong
And, warmed up and your hair is too long
What if I was young? What if I was younger?
And so, finally she showed
I never should have asked, it was a long time ago

You are my voice, my microphone
You are my voice, so take me on
You are my voice
You are my voice
(Repeat)


Sidenote: I f-ing love you Jason Schwartzman. Marry me already.

Peace, Love, and Rushmore Appreciation,
LTK

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Blogger Sucks

Oh, that's not a song title? Well it should be. Maybe Google is the real POS. In Google's war on the music blog community they are taking down anything and everything they can - often without explanation or request. As much as I love having my posts disappear sporadically, other more popular Blogger blogs have been hit worse. I've been so down and out about it, I haven't posted in a year (Get it). But new N.A.S.A. was just too difficult to stay away from.

Here's to N.A.S.A. rocking the shit out of 2009 (February can't come fast enough), and leaving behind last year's Blogger for a eventually brand new host: Wordpress. Loves it.

This time we got M.I.A., Santi White/Santogold, and Spank Rock on the track. I'm fucking spazzing to this cut. Enjoy!