tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66557537591654983992024-03-05T03:28:13.539-08:00The Audio Exchangewhat I hear is what you hearMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-81332134603782267182010-09-19T15:38:00.000-07:002010-09-19T16:26:10.245-07:00Better Late Than Never<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeltownsend/4973648628/in/set-72157624790018655/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsBhYlCg5dRGtPtbjfcpnWJK48J5lGrjwhJofnk1zYbFLQ7E7Jj-LZ-q5om-YrNYl0DKXQTVmRBnaTVYa78IyJ1RHz9uVDVQO5oiwOYparr9u41O_5D5CHamjboZzk-69X7l8kHxdrNC4/s320/IMG_0970.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518767127775360514" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to theorize that one of the traits of really good music is its ability to transcend the time at which it's originally released. This may seem fairly obvious, but what I'm referring to is specifically an album that you may be apathetic to or even dislike after a first listen, but then revisit a few years later and love it. Maybe the mood or the message doesn't speak to you at that point in your life. I've noticed several albums getting consistent play by me in 2010 and have been contemplating why I didn't take to them earlier</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)</span></i></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Bon Iver</span><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=12599061-3b2"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=12599061-3b2" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br /><div>I specifically remember being annoyed by this album when it first came out because I couldn't figure out why people liked it so much. What a depressingly slow and whining set! I've probably listened to this album more in 2010 than any other.<br /><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Boxer (2007)</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">The National</span></div><div>I imagine I was put off at first by the lazy, mumbling tone in the vocals. It's taken me three years to really appreciate the craft and musicality present here.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Moondance (1970)</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Van Morrison</span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=12599092-95a"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=12599092-95a" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br /><div>Not sure how this one slipped by, but the vocal performance on this album is astounding.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II (2009)</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Raekwon</span></div></div><div>I returned to this album because I was curious about all of the critical acclaim, a rarity in recent years for a non-mainstream hip hop effort. The stories and subject matter of these songs couldn't be further away from my life and experience, yet it's hard not to get sucked in. It's a relentless and grungy return to the storytelling that has separated the great hip hop albums of the last three decades stand above all.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993399;">Animal Collective</span></div></div><div>The complexity of what seems like dozens of instruments and vocals present on so many tracks gives this album an epic cinematic quality that just took time for me to warm up to.</div><div><br /></div><div>_Michael</div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-19299077194492776982010-07-01T11:39:00.000-07:002010-08-26T23:05:10.740-07:00What's Your Price?<a href="http://www.amoeba.com/"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvPbNACQ439lfbUu4Csn87odYVG9bagoHZFN_tPyvzOUI5FGvUrrVm0qu0pYtDOkFAkpy-x3uaXx_T3nF9SkuAMPMNK8dgjwMPs2rCh0J6Dq38aY3fYrSjgdoK6zRllFan2O5b0wkKJd-/s320/amoeba.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509966049655444530" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvPbNACQ439lfbUu4Csn87odYVG9bagoHZFN_tPyvzOUI5FGvUrrVm0qu0pYtDOkFAkpy-x3uaXx_T3nF9SkuAMPMNK8dgjwMPs2rCh0J6Dq38aY3fYrSjgdoK6zRllFan2O5b0wkKJd-/s1600/amoeba.png"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Amoeba Music</span></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who's music buying habits have not been affected by the "napster revolution". Personally, I've slowly migrated from the CD to Napster to torrent to digital stores with no shortage of frustration and mixed emotions. At this stage of the game, I am finding myself more and more willing to pay for music just to have some control over the reliability of the tracks and their bitrate. Here are just a few of the issues effectively muddying up the industry:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">1. The corporate music industry is easy to villainize. High album prices, minimal percentages to the artist, pushing mainstream trends, the </span><a href="http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/01/doj-approves-modified-ticketmaster-live-nation-merger/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, the </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/16/business/worldbusiness/16music.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Payola scandal</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2. Itunes is an Apple product. In a lot of areas, Apple just doesn't feel the need to compete. Consequently, you get painfully subpar products catered to a general audience. Not only is Itunes highly limited in its customization, selection and pricing, but has been one of the last providers to release DRM-free, high bitrate songs. For ages, Itunes felt it was fine to offer 128 bit, copy-protected music. This meant that if you weren't using a product starting with "i" you were going to be frustrated.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">3. Pirated music is illegal. Although readily available, it's kind of like buying a watch from a crackhead on the street. There's about an equal chance of it being fake as it is a Rolex. Plus, he'll most likely try and slip in some porn with the deal. Such is the case with downloading music online. It's a seedy world. Try and download an album and you'll being tossing the dice as to what bitrate you'll end up with, how complete the album art is and how reliable the tracklist is. Plus, most likely the embedded mp3 data is full of some eastern European websites and promos.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">With all that said, there are interesting trends developing. The onset of legitimate streaming services (i.e. Pandora, Hype Machine, Grooveshark, Mog) coupled with an explosion of online MP3 sales have slowly paved the way for a purely digital music industry. The consumer will see benefits as the industry evolves. One sign of life is Amazon's recent introduction of</span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_hi_2?rh=n%3A163856011%2Cn%3A%212334092011%2Cn%3A%212334154011%2Cn%3A2384464011&sort=salesrank&ie=UTF8&qid=1282884679"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> $5 Albums</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, which change on a monthly basis. A few standouts in August include:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Rick Ross - Teflon Don</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lady Gaga - The Fame Monster</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The Roots - How I Got Over</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Ray Lamontagne - Trouble</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Radiohead - OK Computer</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 1</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Outkast - Stankonia</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Grizzly Bear - Beckatimest</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Boston - Boston</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Coconut Records - Nighttiming</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Miles Davis - Birth Of The Cool</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Blu & Exile - Below The Heavens</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Basement Jaxx - Rooty</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The Bug - London Zoo</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">How much would you pay for legality?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></div></div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-28243674662382341772010-06-06T13:15:00.000-07:002010-06-06T13:40:13.958-07:00Drake Vs. Art Of Noise<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Well, we're about a week out from </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thisisdrake"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Drake's</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> "Thank Me Later". It'll be interesting come June 15th to see how the album is received. Although a lot of singles have been released over the past few months and the full album being leaked about a week ago, I'm gonna hold out till that Tuesday to give it a proper listen.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I was sorting through a number of tracks in preparation for a new mix and keep coming back to this Caspa remix of an old </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/artofnoiseoffical"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Art Of Noise</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> song, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Moments In Love</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. I only recently found out that this track was originally released in the early 80's and that blew my mind. The synthpop group from London has elements of hip-hop and industrial electronic that had me assuming that this was a current group when I first heard it. Unbelievable. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFlyfFUS_f9efcjplCguI-npRUE6ZhSXgKC2VC5O6n5Pby8Mr47dZDuSIeo32T6O7bpWGDn2FgyVWgQVPCLssory4jx1r8CHMhNiSUSUGfFUU7RWKUB73M2py6Sc9YFtqwnjgFb41_iiL/s320/artnoise.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479762407173381250" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The Caspa remix only very subtly changes from the original and shortens the 10 minute opus a bit; however it's still repetitive and over 5 minutes long. I love the duality of the quiet droning reflective half interrupted throughout by the epic industrial thumping sections. This was really a perfect backdrop for Drake's single, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Over</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, where his loud rhythmic braggadocio verses are tempered with a reflective, sloppy chorus inside of his head. Hope you enjoy!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Drake - Art Of Over (Thriller Phil Remix)</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Warning: Explicit Lyrics</span></span></i><br /></b></span></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11618730-750"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11618730-750" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-37233146762873053902010-05-23T13:47:00.000-07:002010-05-23T14:58:19.626-07:00Distant Relatives<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eZ-SSIYd1Z1Ogs5j5TGeq3CnmQ_d96wadi7F4AwR_r8k0Zc011AOsQClrDNsLfmbePhyphenhyphenloNzZClGbnSFj5WDxUtmvKoyemIqtVzc1tWZkL9w-mSIbh90b32jxtjCvsGjgCqwTDzPHIY8/s1600/16marley_CA0-articleLarge.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eZ-SSIYd1Z1Ogs5j5TGeq3CnmQ_d96wadi7F4AwR_r8k0Zc011AOsQClrDNsLfmbePhyphenhyphenloNzZClGbnSFj5WDxUtmvKoyemIqtVzc1tWZkL9w-mSIbh90b32jxtjCvsGjgCqwTDzPHIY8/s320/16marley_CA0-articleLarge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474587547430481122" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Queens rap legend Nas teams up with the youngest son of Bob Marley, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley for the cultural mashup album, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.distantrelatives.com/">Distant Relatives</a>.</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> Envisioned as tribute of sorts to Africa and its threads in music, arts and education, the<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"> tracks are rooted in Caribbean, jazz and hip-hop with samples from traditional African beats. Marley's dubstep/dancehall/roots production and raspy melodies lay the framework for Nas' introspective rhymes.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/distant-relatives-bonus-track/id370698837"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPOztiTrLe4RNu2Adzqk8TYCOtbOh0O0iCxpGK7PIPpCY70of-fEy9QGs_zNlCWkIJNb0lIp9a7CAMBEc8m9If6euRvY7cDm20KSlmUUi9vVuPtTyA7kEScjkYU7f1VAYQzQJKyXQa9RA/s320/nas-marley-distant-relatives.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474585851375070594" /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">My two favorite songs bookend the album, tracks 1 and 13. High energy to start, reflective ballad to end. Go check out the full album as part of the proceeds go to charity programs in Africa.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - As We Enter</span></span></b></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11465394-286"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11465394-286" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley - Africa Must Wake Up (ft. K'naan)</span></span></b></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11465395-0eb"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11465395-0eb" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-57295130823321904712010-05-16T17:04:00.000-07:002010-05-16T17:20:06.231-07:00Next Episode Remix<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnkw_B-ggZjc_IHXcnAEHjQvfTs2eIMHs5mjNoW6__h4WZDUYN-3EI2bW6DFOEdVI4KhsA9MjH8qvc4SjfMZsdI0TYxfQKYgr0bPoa8gt_jOlBEUDVzuxoutNOH9nHG4g-WjhGZ0VWntf/s1600/IMG_7358.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGnkw_B-ggZjc_IHXcnAEHjQvfTs2eIMHs5mjNoW6__h4WZDUYN-3EI2bW6DFOEdVI4KhsA9MjH8qvc4SjfMZsdI0TYxfQKYgr0bPoa8gt_jOlBEUDVzuxoutNOH9nHG4g-WjhGZ0VWntf/s320/IMG_7358.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472025404448109842" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Wow, what a stressful/busy past few days (see above).</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Spent some time on planes and in a quiet beach house and subsequently got the chance to play with a few new beats. Pull out your boombox or headphones with the most bass and enjoy this mellow re-imagining of a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=ZqkRJMqC5O0&feature=related">Dre classic</a>. Peace from VA & NC</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><b>Dr. Dre - The Next Episode (DJBN Remix)</b><br /></span></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11393927-e44"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11393927-e44" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></span></div></div></div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-68032333360308056782010-05-02T14:42:00.000-07:002010-05-02T15:00:01.889-07:00Find Your Love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXvtEgP1ZYfViazyWgBiD1wqUHbMdEwG3rxg1a28D8Ef3Aj9RyTOepfgD5le8FN-ITHzzyaPjOvsKIccy0clW0clgpt2sJ0AhsMd1PSe-gSa8Fw-pe2yleuEM7wXYuBOpnj39CNsmNQKc/s1600/FIND+YOUR+LOVE.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXvtEgP1ZYfViazyWgBiD1wqUHbMdEwG3rxg1a28D8Ef3Aj9RyTOepfgD5le8FN-ITHzzyaPjOvsKIccy0clW0clgpt2sJ0AhsMd1PSe-gSa8Fw-pe2yleuEM7wXYuBOpnj39CNsmNQKc/s320/FIND+YOUR+LOVE.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466794481368607074" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Drake's second single is out from his upcoming June 15th debut, "Thank Me Later". Produced by Kanye West, the track showcases the R&B half of Drake roaming around the industrial thumping we've come to know from West ala "808's & Heartbreaks". The two were reportedly working together in Hawaii recently and Drake then went on to Jamaica to shoot the video. Reactions?</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Drake - Find Your Love</span><br /></i></span></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11248472-1d7"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11248472-1d7" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As a bonus, I've included an obscure Drake track from a few years ago that features Dwele and Little Brother... can't really lose with a lineup like that.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Drake - Don't You Have a Man ft. Dwele & Little Brother</span></i><br /></span></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11248473-a05"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11248473-a05" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">_Michael</span></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-29826882008723770112010-04-27T21:36:00.000-07:002010-04-27T22:44:33.066-07:00B.o.B<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQaGGbl1d5C-5K7dIur_9t15gSU_ibdKwXLx_jtCbdHKrHFsOtrfuGGSq2tmJNAej3lDd3N07NVpwy5NrhofLv0klv4ISK7To28hmxzdLRDUP3jR1Aj-zG9YVv6s_c9O-GSDHGOwslwx6/s1600/thumbnail_8.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQaGGbl1d5C-5K7dIur_9t15gSU_ibdKwXLx_jtCbdHKrHFsOtrfuGGSq2tmJNAej3lDd3N07NVpwy5NrhofLv0klv4ISK7To28hmxzdLRDUP3jR1Aj-zG9YVv6s_c9O-GSDHGOwslwx6/s320/thumbnail_8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465056532769809282" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />As <a href="http://audioexchange.blogspot.com/2010/02/up-n-coming.html">previously written</a>, I've been looking forward to </span></span><a href="http://www.bobatl.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">B.o.B</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">'s major-label debut for most of the last year. At only 21, this rapper/producer/singer/instrumentalist out of ATL has been releasing mixtapes and building buzz since 2006. For the past two years he has been consistently labeled as one of hip-hop's promising young talents, but what has been fascinating for me is the clinic he and Grand Hustle / Atlantic Records have been putting on in patience and timing with his exposure. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLc0XJnMBpe1Pmy9XvXFxlItb55_FVAX7ZYuT8WCGrCWaXqE7IVvlT2DreJ1Ebh_5TY5HuMaSBb_Yv5cJ-UwiEnudEj1_DsDSXAP3FBFO9y-ack9JTD2_iXolLFMoB2-qrrW_aiBUZaI2/s320/thumbnail_9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465056367105038578" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After six mixtapes, there is little doubt that Bobby Ray has talent. Working up to major-label, his 4th and 5th mixtapes established his credential in the underground community while his 6th served to promote his upcoming LP (similar to J. Cole). What we start to see is a few singles helping to break the ice into the hip-hop charts and a calculated new single to expand exposure. Apparently, the single "Nothin' on You" was originally written for Lupe Fiasco but turned down. B.o.B. and his label jumped on it and built a track that has exploded. Not only is it a purposeful cross-over track, most likely building off of the huge recent success of genre-blending acts like Drake, but it was released at the perfect time a number of months before the LP release. This blend of pop, rap, rock, etc. is a picture of the array of genres found on the LP and peaked a few days before the release at #1 on billboard.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN_hKHVURdZfSI_Pg6v3Z8Tvv_h3OcLosKzKo1hJmGmTBByrEAFvCSa1vK0wpXZyfsCvG5bPQp7CDllftQgKnpum60oIopp-JtuFky7vdGzOHfTCZII4Q1qtBy9kbV-L31pPwtbbGAJRK/s320/TheAdventuresofBobbyRay.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465055166364701058" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i>B.o.B - </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><i>The Kids (feat. Janelle MonĂ¡e)</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11192900-023"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=11192900-023" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">After a few listens, the album "B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray" is a lot of fun. The prime complaints are that the eclectic mix of styles may be a bit off-putting for some, and none of the styles are done in a particularly innovative or ground-breaking way. That said, there are some really great tracks including the opening "Don't Let Me Fall" where Bobby spaces out about the dangers of a rise to fame. "Bet I" is no-nonsense braggadocio about the ability to flow on a beat with an overall great homage to the ATL and cameos from T.I. and Playboy Tre. "Kids" is probably the most interesting track on the album where he teams up with Janelle Monae to reinvent the Vampire Weekend track and "Airplanes" tracks bookend the album with an Eminem feature where, in typical fashion on his features, he goes hard on the verse.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">It's a bit of fresh air for the hip-hop community and a mainstream release that is something that I put my money behind. Look for him in San Francisco May 4th and 5th touring with Lupe Fiasco.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></span></div><div><br /></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-17080996640915645422010-03-30T10:00:00.000-07:002010-03-30T10:04:13.176-07:0091.9<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaYiBrf_qQBnYxP7NjdAtIQ1GfzBI9SJH0Xy-0WdtoxJvAvNhqJYSR-he8zwHr3F3eFBZNstR9CFfZvsbWe74kIAB1JRQo3x37w1zegvcVwtk2uHOZ2gXx6e2KJGLVzXvGcVrumfIvUBS/s1600/3088635458_0c8424158a_o.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsaYiBrf_qQBnYxP7NjdAtIQ1GfzBI9SJH0Xy-0WdtoxJvAvNhqJYSR-he8zwHr3F3eFBZNstR9CFfZvsbWe74kIAB1JRQo3x37w1zegvcVwtk2uHOZ2gXx6e2KJGLVzXvGcVrumfIvUBS/s320/3088635458_0c8424158a_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454309607712045394" border="0" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I've loved hip hop ever since I can remember having enough money to buy my own music. I think my first CD was Hootie and the Blowfish... but my second CD was definitely Blackstreet - <span style="font-style: italic;">Another Level</span>. That album is crazy cheesy and I'm still blown away by the fact that an unedited version of No Diggity actually does not exist. Still, I may have all of the lyrics memorized to all of those songs and I will always keep that album on my ipod. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaW_w3GolcA59RM0IJFpGuxREQgVg6Ra5JMEuUmckLwKQQbMTuCVzoRG39cbNi4CQFA-9ioDa1_Nl9DMuBgqez1xGU5SBj8xE_FvHdDVmupY22qPSHC9kA1DDq6EB9QthiaXBhyphenhyphenjOt-Xe/s320/Wildcat919.png" style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 80px;" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454312061822585906" border="0" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">During the late 90's, I went through middle school and high school with a pretty solid routine. My first major life purchase was a big Sony stereo system that had about 3 foot high speakers and a gangsta five disc changer. I had a bedroom in the basement and I ended almost every night laying in bed listening to the local college radio station, 91.9 FM. Starting at 9pm, they played solely hip hop and, amazingly, starting at 11pm it was uncensored. Growing up in small-town Kansas doesn't afford much exposure, so I owe most of my early hip hop education to that station. Along with the mainstream, there was a huge amount of underground and local playtime. Minus the seriously painful airing of Tech Nine, I was hooked.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">A couple of songs that I specifically recall are by Canibus and Big Pun. I remember not being able to get the "It's been a long time..." line out of my head from the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2000-BC</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> song. I also went digging through my old CDs tonight looking for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Big Pun's - </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Capital Punishment</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> but came up empty. Such a hard album. On the </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Superlyrical</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> track is Black Thought of the Roots, which reminded me of Slum Village: Probably one of the early groups that introduced me to a heavy jazz-infused hip hop sound that I now give preference to. At the time, I had no idea that the J Dilla sound would so heavily influence me towards groups such as A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, The Pharcyde and De La Soul.<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Warning: Explicit Lyrics</span></span><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Canibus - 2000 BC<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="divplaylist" width="335" height="28"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10919070-bcf"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10919070-bcf" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="335" height="28"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Big Punisher - Super Lyrical (ft. Black Thought)<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="divplaylist" width="335" height="28"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10919071-990"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10919071-990" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="335" height="28"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><br /></div><div>Slum Village - Fall In Love<br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="divplaylist" width="335" height="28"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10919069-9a3"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10919069-9a3" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="335" height="28"></embed></object></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-74641941995277745812010-03-29T20:25:00.000-07:002010-03-29T22:07:02.159-07:00Phantom Kicks Remix<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I've played around with basic remixing in the past. Nothing too invasive or serious, mostly pairing an instrumental of a popular song with the vocals of another. Usually open up my mixes with track like this (</span><a href="http://audioexchange.blogspot.com/2010/02/february-2010-mix.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">RJD2 + Outkast</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, </span><a href="http://audioexchange.blogspot.com/2009/09/return.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">DJ Mujava + Amanda Blank</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, </span><a href="http://audioexchange.blogspot.com/2009/04/djbn-april-2009-mini-mix.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Kanye West + Nas</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVNMW2MhWO5fJzmxI8gfPfNS1zJZmkDfr-2gSxTUKWwDoj5Is2MNMsF9WRJt7W5awREK6jwkgXYeEi4SncnNxkfaKn7oZsJEV06Tq1EKluv7zq-R2SkTVRoTOx9W6fscN-fHi5BEp5H-N/s320/IMG_5157.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454268538224778946" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This past weekend, I took a track from a friend's new band </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/phantomkicks"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Phantom Kicks</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and played with it a bit. I enjoy the original, but thought it would be a good challenge to introduce some new elements to shift the tone a bit. Check out these </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeltownsend/sets/72157622664048604/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">photos</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> I took of the band this last year and don't miss them at Hotel Utah on April 22.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Phantom Kicks - Cut From A Different Clay<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10918700-031"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10918700-031" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Phantom Kicks - Cut From A Different Clay (DJBN Remix)<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10918776-0ed"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10918776-0ed" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-73561900082838211222010-03-04T22:16:00.000-08:002010-03-04T22:45:32.155-08:00Phantogram<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Went to a show last night with Tanner and Phil of </span><a href="http://phantomkicks.muxtape.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Phantom Kicks</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and had a great time. Tanner was looking to guest contribute to a local concert blog and asked that I attempt some concert photos for him. It was a new challenge and stretched the limits of my entry level dSLR and lenses but I'm happy with a handful of the </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeltownsend/sets/72157623557724114/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">photos</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> that I got.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQj9AczASMcQsSElYRc2-9KZwAWQsz3s8LM3008bVMidd9ccPz2c9VF4dvsj7kCbGTStfRGmLjU33sWGzNalhyQcghILpqfvBWX4wYuw3kOzf4FflsVEE8DYdC_zikvaXlXrXsOQqUpNv/s320/IMG_6372.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445036046867216066" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The headliner, </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/phantogram"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Phantogram</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">, is a duo out of Saratoga Springs, New York and has a great blend of a dreamy pop/electronic/dance. It was a lot of fun and they were sharp in their instrumentation and producing a full sound with various looping, synthesizing, sampling techniques. Sarah was also a visual arts major, so they've incorporated some artsy video backdrops which help to accentuate the "dreamy" aspects of their rhythmic pulse. They just released a new album and I took a quick listen today. Although it was enjoyable, I think I'm still a bit in the concert hangover, because I think the energy of the live show took the music to a significantly different level than the album did for me. Have a listen for yourself though</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><object width="400" height="400"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=20346249&style=metal&bbg=000000&bt=FFFFFF&bfg=666666&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="400" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=20346249&style=metal&bbg=000000&bt=FFFFFF&bfg=666666&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-34870107114276796882010-02-21T22:18:00.000-08:002010-02-22T21:26:54.803-08:00Up N Coming<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A few artists that have struck a chord with me in some way amidst the vast number of indie/underground hip hop mixtapes that are released. I really feel that any of these sing/songwriter/producer/rappers could get a big breakthrough in 2010. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 172px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0fiC49rSPDgEbMtbGY4mN8fw8E4JFPBXGVumSaHTuIB5jILtl39zFCYYDd-h2suTJJctEeW8y7pTzlLvkuZTp9UIjEbx7WKSVK57LNxjSHdoEoy6Bmv39cQNKEKHd36KQMl94VDxaXLoB/s320/l_edb6f4ca89be999cc09d8b0b16fa89fc.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440969819905333330" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://www.myspace.com/bobatl"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bobby Ray aka </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">B.o.B.</span></span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">is well on his way to mainstream success at the age of 22. Releasing several successful </span></span><a href="http://2dopeboyz.okayplayer.com/2010/02/01/b-o-b-may-25th-mixtape/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">mixtapes</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is building hype for his debut under T.I.'s Grand Hustle label. He has a fantastic flow and a voice that's easily recognizable and memorable. Check out his last couple of mixtapes and get excited for the potential of this Atlanta rapper/producer's April 27th release.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><object width="400" height="400"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=20231836&style=metal&bbg=000000&bt=FFFFFF&bfg=666666&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="400" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=20231836&style=metal&bbg=000000&bt=FFFFFF&bfg=666666&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_3QJ2F36BQBEc1k9zfNPjBe18CHchaI2iRAzs9OMOzezhvDmwPig81s3EE1_GxcpYhlHA5DmoUhddg96wkGXkVV64L6Yb_KPnFSz1YQpZQ7U2w6KuHcJ2chMUch7LVk56CXIj_zmwXlz/s320/l_1ea333ff8e5a4035a16fb338c7c8c977.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440970016234107058" /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><a href="http://www.myspace.com/novel"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Novel</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is a proven talent in songwriting/producing/singing. Although having written for multiple stars including Talib Kweli, he's not attained much solo success. I've really enjoyed listens of his recent mixtapes </span></span><a href="http://content.onsmash.com/archives/20926"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Suspended Animation"</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and collaboration with Joell Ortiz, </span></span><a href="http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/joell-ortiz-novel-present-defying-the-predictable/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"Defying the Predictable"</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">. Look out for his upcoming release, "The Audiobiography".</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><object width="400" height="400"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=20231254&style=metal&bbg=000000&bt=FFFFFF&bfg=666666&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="400" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=20231254&style=metal&bbg=000000&bt=FFFFFF&bfg=666666&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3m06vII5lhsWM43zCV0MOQ1mOiohy_e2iyoeTFysZ9xQvYXmAtCwYTRGmEDEI8CSWmA5MOphEMPAIJt3k4KstEDuFKNYdbB8sAmUQpGpwy6tq1jXEcSlElx7GHJEl18i35B3ZUww-sFwl/s320/l_5b77a0fb11a04872a31cc6e286bbcc13.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440970074512949058" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">"</span></span><a href="http://diznmoon.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Soon You'll Understand"</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is a mixtape by L.A. hip hop artist, </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/dizgibran"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Diz Gibran.</span></span></b></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This is a solid, under the radar release that caught me by surprise and has stayed in my itunes library while other mixtapes have faded to the trash. I love the production work by </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Moonshine</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and Diz has a passion for the music that is obvious in the tracks.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 253px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuADYKNJoohisz_thgRltRCy3_1mrOo2NQjwkYUonCp6EZ8zpneD3cDC3w-wyiVOg0fBGbJggyfoqf1vWsJq5ohdSqhJ1Og4CC8sLa0USk8BjF9EI3EWW9Fti3El_r30SllVV5cNFu_qV/s320/furmeu1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440970867129555042" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><a href="http://www.myspace.com/chiddybang"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Chiddy Bang</span></span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> is a duo of college friends from Philadelphia with a pretty entertaining mixtape that has samples from all sorts of wild places such as Sufjan Stevens and Mary Poppins. Check out their recently released video for "Opposite of Adults".</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Love it.</span></span></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/McRgkE_vgjU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/McRgkE_vgjU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-15481875022996909102010-02-10T21:03:00.000-08:002010-02-10T21:13:04.289-08:00Midlake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW-wRQXqh9fzWvrgR4bYo0PUOap7Hd7B57ZF8Cc2FTvmHnUOLkM62gfaidMpPy7e0OgDQLsl4l1heI8hC_8z1l6RAF31WuCSvtWOfWLD7qctuJSHgpS7paz-ZSqI3hU287PlDkXw5p2Mx/s1600-h/midlake-2-latar.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIW-wRQXqh9fzWvrgR4bYo0PUOap7Hd7B57ZF8Cc2FTvmHnUOLkM62gfaidMpPy7e0OgDQLsl4l1heI8hC_8z1l6RAF31WuCSvtWOfWLD7qctuJSHgpS7paz-ZSqI3hU287PlDkXw5p2Mx/s320/midlake-2-latar.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436848456680525586" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Let's try something different. I heard a song today by the Denton, Texas band, </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/midlake"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Midlake</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> and was really struck by it. I have high hopes for their new album, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Courage of Others</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> so I thought I'd share the album with everyone and listen simultaneous to you. What do you think? If we like it, it looks like they'll be in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall on March 4th. </span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></span></div><br /><object width="400" height="400"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=20067106&style=metal&bbg=000000&bt=FFFFFF&bfg=666666&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="400" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=20067106&style=metal&bbg=000000&bt=FFFFFF&bfg=666666&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-7678711577831694442010-02-04T18:52:00.000-08:002010-02-05T09:43:39.358-08:00February 2010 Mix<span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFhVvc470Vq7AtApfgXa-UquGU993n0ObXMMqy8vhCxeiX7_rU6h3xUZ6QCz3sGb2O_SR-Vbq-2oWoyD_fqCaONLTcKaLmtmRMZTL7UFhpH05S9abtfYjKoCl0VJ1vGB1Y1k7mINGit7B/s1600-h/DSC01248.JPG"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFhVvc470Vq7AtApfgXa-UquGU993n0ObXMMqy8vhCxeiX7_rU6h3xUZ6QCz3sGb2O_SR-Vbq-2oWoyD_fqCaONLTcKaLmtmRMZTL7UFhpH05S9abtfYjKoCl0VJ1vGB1Y1k7mINGit7B/s320/DSC01248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434597688203390082" border="0" /></span></span></a></span><span style=";font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><span style=";font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:100%;" class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">It's the first mix of 2010. I've never been one to make resolutions, but I am not afraid of new years optimism. Each year seems to get better and brings new experiences and opportunities. Just good old-fashioned happy. For this blog, a new year goes hand in hand with new music and the opportunity for me to share what's blasting on my headphones at all hours of the day as I roam around this city.</span></span><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Not all new, but still tracks I was not afraid to spend a bit of time with in this compilation. Plus, a short ode to the late MJ to start us off on the ridiculous.</span></span></div><div style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></b></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 13px;font-size:11px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="divplaylist" width="335" height="28"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10378604-0d9"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10378604-0d9" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="335" height="28"></embed></object></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 13px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 11px;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 13px;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Setlist:</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mr. Flash - Dirty Bossa Nova<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Private - My Secret Lover (Diplo Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">RJD2 - All For U (DJBN Atliens Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Breakbot - Baby I'm Yours (ft. Irfane)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Miike Snow - Animal<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yelle - Ce' Jeu (The Twelves Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Dangerous Muse - I Want It All<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Boys Noize - Oh! (A-Trak Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Leno Lovecraft - Space Fighter<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mika - We Are Golden (Calvin Harris Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Calvin Harris - Merrymaking at My Place (Deadmau5 Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Groove Armada - Paper Romance (Urchins Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rihanna - Hard (Chew Fu Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The XX - Shelter (Death To The Throne Remix)<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Dada Life - Let's Get Bleeped Tonight<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)<br /><br /></span></span>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-69189040887554926972010-01-20T23:14:00.000-08:002010-01-20T23:23:11.097-08:00Nick Drake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjOuKdZoAlUVChPQYJNLwGAZMyJKEdiZOK_2N2GH3UVEia9fwmOyHqT9y0NNzr_GVJpvvw4Qkcgh4RaurqBJ__zHNBkxJFBRXJv0M-rsqL-K2a5Ad8jetktUalU6FVU6WT5Es4KzpQCuA/s1600-h/nickdrake.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjOuKdZoAlUVChPQYJNLwGAZMyJKEdiZOK_2N2GH3UVEia9fwmOyHqT9y0NNzr_GVJpvvw4Qkcgh4RaurqBJ__zHNBkxJFBRXJv0M-rsqL-K2a5Ad8jetktUalU6FVU6WT5Es4KzpQCuA/s320/nickdrake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429090043789130018" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><div><br /></div>This is a comfort album to me; one that I've heard for many years now and enjoy when I stumble upon it now and again. You know there's that music that never really leaves you. For whatever reason it doesn't get old, you just may get excited about something shiny and new, but it waits patiently for your return. Nick Drake will be happy to sit with you in all sorts of situations; I'd recommend a long scenic road trip with this album, Way to Blue.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></div><br /><object width="400" height="400"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=19132094&style=metal&bbg=FFFFFF&bfg=424242&bt=377D9F&bth=FFFFFF&pbg=377D9F&pbgh=424242&pfg=FFFFFF&pfgh=377D9F&si=377D9F&lbg=377D9F&lbgh=424242&lfg=FFFFFF&lfgh=377D9F&sb=377D9F&sbh=424242&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="400" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=19132094&style=metal&bbg=FFFFFF&bfg=424242&bt=377D9F&bth=FFFFFF&pbg=377D9F&pbgh=424242&pfg=FFFFFF&pfgh=377D9F&si=377D9F&lbg=377D9F&lbgh=424242&lfg=FFFFFF&lfgh=377D9F&sb=377D9F&sbh=424242&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-26234715786199653982010-01-17T14:05:00.000-08:002010-01-17T14:28:26.333-08:00Pains of Being Pure at Heart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNGbcr5p6XNSmIRUSdlaL3e2RIjUBRQKVfQssbDwVVJxHlXVW3WRsfFg-eIEEA_Kqt30bEY8EgYKJjW6Lsqk17c0Ig1Ao7y2Fm3GattuM7_5096fSntrCc_sXgWWSVQpaXUfhRMo93X3m/s1600-h/shot_02_040.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNGbcr5p6XNSmIRUSdlaL3e2RIjUBRQKVfQssbDwVVJxHlXVW3WRsfFg-eIEEA_Kqt30bEY8EgYKJjW6Lsqk17c0Ig1Ao7y2Fm3GattuM7_5096fSntrCc_sXgWWSVQpaXUfhRMo93X3m/s320/shot_02_040.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427837087355697458" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Although maybe one of the most cringe-worthy band names I've ever encountered, I can't help but enjoy this album. It's poppy, trebly, and something I imagine skinny kids working in record stores in the 90s would be all over. Can't you imagine a scene in a movie like Empire Records or High Fidelity where one of the nerdy workers puts this on the store sound system and explains, while looking through his bangs at the ground that "Pains of Being Pure at Heart" changed his life?</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">I love it. Enjoy!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;">_Michael</span></div><br /><object width="400" height="400"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=19075008&style=metal&bbg=FFFFFF&bfg=404040&bt=377D9F&bth=FFFFFF&pbg=377D9F&pbgh=404040&pfg=FFFFFF&pfgh=377D9F&si=377D9F&lbg=377D9F&lbgh=404040&lfg=FFFFFF&lfgh=377D9F&sb=377D9F&sbh=404040&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="400" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=19075008&style=metal&bbg=FFFFFF&bfg=404040&bt=377D9F&bth=FFFFFF&pbg=377D9F&pbgh=404040&pfg=FFFFFF&pfgh=377D9F&si=377D9F&lbg=377D9F&lbgh=404040&lfg=FFFFFF&lfgh=377D9F&sb=377D9F&sbh=404040&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-68045006138872006602010-01-01T16:57:00.000-08:002010-01-03T21:33:24.513-08:00Tops<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2009 was a really great music year for me. Amidst recording a handful of DJ mixes, I discovered a lot of great new music representing all genres. I haven't been this in love with my headphones and great albums since high school bus trips on the soccer team where I spent a lot of long hours on school nights traveling with my Sony Discman.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I've compiled a synopsis of my favorite albums that were released this last year and hope that you'll take time to enjoy them as well. I love perusing people's "album-of-the-year" lists and discovering new music and am excited to sit with band such as Animal Collective, Bat For Lashes, DJ /rupture, Jason Lytle, Neko Case, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Raekwon, The Swell Season, Thieves Like Us, and Volcano Choir. All have released great albums in 2009 which I've either overlooked, need to give a second listen or are completely new to me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyD3LKxg33t0uyOU9D9rgJTn43OM8Q2JaW50wEQWrfuSgz0bFGu2_TmDQNQtWmVxaVmVPxT_IZjfMgtDBVPSDPgZHMCcV2sahTLH0pST9C1lPtlqkUE9mEPsEzoKl-1W84MH95enFHX7ps/s1600-h/freelancewhales-weathervanes-art.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyD3LKxg33t0uyOU9D9rgJTn43OM8Q2JaW50wEQWrfuSgz0bFGu2_TmDQNQtWmVxaVmVPxT_IZjfMgtDBVPSDPgZHMCcV2sahTLH0pST9C1lPtlqkUE9mEPsEzoKl-1W84MH95enFHX7ps/s200/freelancewhales-weathervanes-art.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422740712203435714" /></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">F</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">reelance Whales - </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Weathervanes</span></b></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px;"><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315798-b99"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315798-b99" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><i><a href="http://audioexchange.blogspot.com/2009/11/lovely-little-morsels.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">This band out of Queens</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> has really excited me this last year. I was fortunate enough to get to see them live at the Rickshaw Stop and I'm so thankful. I don't know that I've ever seen a band so joyful, humble and thankful. At only ten bucks, I felt like I was almost stealing from them. Glad to report that they've just been signed with F</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">renchkiss/Mom & Pop Records.</span></span></i></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWWyfgJ_nSlMTTySTPV0dOF1-b4bkyTLb814HaCwkPPc0X3qiT0zC-hXdAhr3ie7M8MyllrRwiVhW1k73QGqNM74zYIK_nE8OHvM8lvDvY5uBKgVTvvVpwUbconbFMNqCL3ej3duXIMIH/s1600-h/reservoir_lowres-1.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWWyfgJ_nSlMTTySTPV0dOF1-b4bkyTLb814HaCwkPPc0X3qiT0zC-hXdAhr3ie7M8MyllrRwiVhW1k73QGqNM74zYIK_nE8OHvM8lvDvY5uBKgVTvvVpwUbconbFMNqCL3ej3duXIMIH/s200/reservoir_lowres-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422741110897872994" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 3px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 3px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Fanfarlo - </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Reservoir</span></b></span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021847-a78"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021847-a78" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I went to the ten buck concert to see the Freelance Whales and stumbled upon Fanfarlo! Really great surprise and I've been listening to their new album on repeat ever since. Although on the border of too "tortured, hipster" band, at least they're from London, so they dress different than the hipsters here.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0blh6qxjhLSvSGIMvG85kCRYBpbqIQpYr-rK_pOrYNhUN3Crhyphenhyphenr-8riE17SXzWAq-otoVs0pq8D3OtVVDZHYzBkqtBOVA0dX_2I2V1SKijg64SBifdRB7CIChL4h2uweuWJQvXX_WIaeJ/s1600-h/phoenix-wolfgang-art.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0blh6qxjhLSvSGIMvG85kCRYBpbqIQpYr-rK_pOrYNhUN3Crhyphenhyphenr-8riE17SXzWAq-otoVs0pq8D3OtVVDZHYzBkqtBOVA0dX_2I2V1SKijg64SBifdRB7CIChL4h2uweuWJQvXX_WIaeJ/s200/phoenix-wolfgang-art.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422741043815414418" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Phoenix - </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix</span></b></span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021866-555"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021866-555" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">2009 was the year of </span></span><a href="http://audioexchange.blogspot.com/2009/05/not-in-arizona.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Phoenix</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> for me. I got to catch them live at the Warfield, which although I was stuck in the rafters, was loud, flashy and full of aisle dancing. There new album is close to perfect and has also helped shoot this French band into the mainstream spotlight. Rock on, rock on.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Mbirvo9DYJ-T67WUF5aQ9FzFrAqStmGqU8p6QXv4tqEpuYb_6BHWOHn6wJORrP-M6mM0Q_zr_h1t9b1PIxwD8zugKjHG0DnkRZoYLLdCld2F3DCozOYDYN4oYV0kVN8cdyUriDRohXTQ/s1600-h/drake_so_far_gone-front-large.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Mbirvo9DYJ-T67WUF5aQ9FzFrAqStmGqU8p6QXv4tqEpuYb_6BHWOHn6wJORrP-M6mM0Q_zr_h1t9b1PIxwD8zugKjHG0DnkRZoYLLdCld2F3DCozOYDYN4oYV0kVN8cdyUriDRohXTQ/s200/drake_so_far_gone-front-large.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422740913249782562" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Drake - </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">So Far Gone</span></b></span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7798120-1fe"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7798120-1fe" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I've </span></span><a href="http://audioexchange.blogspot.com/2009/06/mixtape-to-milli.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">written in depth</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> about Drake in the past and shared some of my excitement. I probably listened to this mixtape more than any other album this past year and am curious to see if he can capture that magic again in 2010 with his debut with Cash Money Records.</span></span></i></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYSVeKtJvoL4VrpsQtTRh2xnu1PV5PgTh6pKgmlYnwK69amwu2MeE_wOvGIl6_Qbl3onIreUrU-QqM3qNewjW2NAvVj1koWewvhrFZv5PnAwJuxkF99eEP_8aT2jWyptdFblz6BJQijvZ/s1600-h/20090811_noid_the_antlers_hospice.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMYSVeKtJvoL4VrpsQtTRh2xnu1PV5PgTh6pKgmlYnwK69amwu2MeE_wOvGIl6_Qbl3onIreUrU-QqM3qNewjW2NAvVj1koWewvhrFZv5PnAwJuxkF99eEP_8aT2jWyptdFblz6BJQijvZ/s200/20090811_noid_the_antlers_hospice.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422740840188875506" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The Antlers - </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Hospice</span></b></span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021867-70e"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021867-70e" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I stumbled upon the Hospice album during my weekly NPR podcast listen and was haunted by it. This is a headphones album and I've enjoyed getting lost in this ode to the passing of a close friend. Downside: always come away a bit solemn.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IbcPA3_G23lci03_g3T2-xucdTEbTgFflsVJ3KzaPS0LhVySFFR7VOssMr67D6nKsAi16Fz7grFOTeXuT4czoYGQpj_3ZLVtWkiw7AG3-N897nHK3mepnitxXPNlAlKI_D3rUJ_7F4Y-/s1600-h/passion-pit-manners-album-art.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IbcPA3_G23lci03_g3T2-xucdTEbTgFflsVJ3KzaPS0LhVySFFR7VOssMr67D6nKsAi16Fz7grFOTeXuT4czoYGQpj_3ZLVtWkiw7AG3-N897nHK3mepnitxXPNlAlKI_D3rUJ_7F4Y-/s200/passion-pit-manners-album-art.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422740977156260706" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 198px; " /></span></a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Passion Pit - </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Manners</span></b></span></div><div><i><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7895975-cbb"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7895975-cbb" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I've </span></span><a href="http://audioexchange.blogspot.com/2009/07/you-know-that-one-time-when-i-said.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">previously written</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> about Passion Pit in my ode to painful vocalists. Manners ended up carrying through the months for me and It's a really comfortable blend of pop/rock/electronic that I tend to gravitate toward.</span></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4O81E4W1tZhUz2kZa9qOc3K7aQFpl1_TkMCIxFhKLwdcTSuJIM26WPGqd-IPYn25LTkzy51cFW5jfTeENbXDWHwuF8Ih4R3-039FL0ZtxHpx5Xor5Mu4bE9kpO0tGkCR4s-SrBsZbdBc/s200/227_lostchannels_1241123680.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422740785691609970" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Great Lake Swimmers - </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Lost Channels</span></b></span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021989-d45"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021989-d45" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I thought no one had heard of the Great Lake Swimmers until I tried to go to a small show her in the city at a very low-key venue and got turned away by a sold out show. This album is beautiful in a spacey, folky sort of way. I wouldn't be surprised to see these guys show up at events like Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in coming years.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-style: normal; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmqTAajysHI7bR0g_NmvJwTC2FWvKBSQzUP622Xgw4p2nEZgIVpmJCY335kpebFF8YwqP9nnxNZzcwLXKEJHupliI3GBCuyZhjSWawwDYOIUHToqOvLnian5r4sxD6LuF3JBQbsZD4zZr/s1600-h/wilcocover450.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmqTAajysHI7bR0g_NmvJwTC2FWvKBSQzUP622Xgw4p2nEZgIVpmJCY335kpebFF8YwqP9nnxNZzcwLXKEJHupliI3GBCuyZhjSWawwDYOIUHToqOvLnian5r4sxD6LuF3JBQbsZD4zZr/s200/wilcocover450.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422741158260431186" style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px; " /></span></a></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Wilco - </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Wilco (the album)</span></b></span></div></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021995-8fd"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=10021995-8fd" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I've spent a lot of time with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot over the years, as have every college student, and this new album has got me re-excited about Wilco. Every time one of these songs plays I feel like Jeff Tweedy is sitting on my sofa singing, maybe even with his family as backup vocals.</span></span></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-73166733859930825392009-12-18T00:01:00.000-08:002009-12-18T00:01:01.210-08:00Mistletones<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePVWv7HOfUuo7opqOly_a8iTKcLLQkrHfFzVJVbYeUaPrCYyNSz0sG9FCglasUN6v4uWmkBb-erNki2X_fzZKK25uXE6bh9Ed129AeaLETqPTRvKZY-5N57D-3fB6kyM_Rg2nHgcV2plr/s1600-h/CD+Front.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePVWv7HOfUuo7opqOly_a8iTKcLLQkrHfFzVJVbYeUaPrCYyNSz0sG9FCglasUN6v4uWmkBb-erNki2X_fzZKK25uXE6bh9Ed129AeaLETqPTRvKZY-5N57D-3fB6kyM_Rg2nHgcV2plr/s320/CD+Front.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416459432402965346" /></span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">The wait is over! Brittany and I (Beautiful Notions) officially release our sophmore album today, December 18th, 2009. We've spent the past two months slaving away to ruin your favorite holiday songs, and I feel we've surpassed our wildest expectations. Luckily, no one else really has much in the way of expectations for Beautiful Notions, so we don't have to live up to anything.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMPegw8Ee1G1nG_pNqjLufzIP_NmiDSsvGb6SiSfAU2iUyXCPfUXlofg5gER_-Xkho5OybdN84F0bWskQdf8ja4bvDvpftj4prXpgvrgpm_ohyphenhyphenzLFJSJuoddXDyA1lsBIbyDjeUggaEiIU/s320/back.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416462831256011138" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Honestly, it was a lot of fun (which is really the point), and I greatly enjoy the creative process and re-connecting with Brittany. Never a dull moment and an unbelievable amount of laughter. We're looking forward to hosting a small holiday party tonight to drink some wassail, perform a song or two, warm ourselves by the fireplace DVD and toast to good friends. If you'd like a CD, please let us know. If you're in Hawaii, Brittany will be there for the holidays to give you your copy. If you're in Kansas/Missouri, I will be there for you to distribute copies out of a car trunk.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Best wishes!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-47124026997480693492009-11-15T22:44:00.000-08:002009-11-15T23:24:02.228-08:00Stocking Stuffers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmt3df8-DZTCsyo-kKy-sg7VgkRFEsOG9JedoedsjtGN9Ouc1j99TEfOuAyKRCS9g9KA-w5eXXXBxO-G4j97LHrcnKgp4h3Zlfvkl3waJPv-IDORYp6tD4l7uq0e8T6Gzx0wC5AdA0WR7/s1600/Beautiful+Notions.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmt3df8-DZTCsyo-kKy-sg7VgkRFEsOG9JedoedsjtGN9Ouc1j99TEfOuAyKRCS9g9KA-w5eXXXBxO-G4j97LHrcnKgp4h3Zlfvkl3waJPv-IDORYp6tD4l7uq0e8T6Gzx0wC5AdA0WR7/s320/Beautiful+Notions.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404596965581271394" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>Anyone who knows Brittany and I, knows about <i>Beautiful Notions</i>. Born out of an escape from the workload and frustrations of architecture school, we've been remaking/ruining perfectly good songs for four years now. <div><br /></div><div><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Uiudu6jnVLBf2XMwweOG7qpvQQgH-BBI2meFKRcis0Oc_HmpaqMh0GpMlQxPSTDQSXQjaNlL3E8jhddDWaYNFVgPNi-u57frnp7QDDr2OGdjzCYFir8Y20mP8ujiQwL5KQ5JxrbL-FGB/s320/Christmas+2008.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404598727666836946" /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now translated to the working architecture world about 1,700 miles away, we've rekindled our lo-fi hack-job approach to musical creation. Our next victims are of the holiday variety and we're excited to officially announce our latest project: the yet-to-be-title Christmas album. Keep your eyes open for a December "bad Christmas sweater CD release party" and enjoy this teaser:<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9334629-c22"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9334629-c22" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><br /><br /><div>_Michael</div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-65677167555711506142009-11-11T20:49:00.000-08:002009-11-11T22:49:15.031-08:00Lovely little morsels<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3yjh9bfapFrpA2CUj_xHZXj7HcT8TvV-mBVpknLDrisny0tFPNRAGMgouEiDZ-evByYlGB8o32ZZayrHPmIeAWxM8AkRXDLDy_sUJ3RmxDzYImwiobWUJxfGAsJ6hXTioIB1WIGTHewv/s1600-h/freelance_whales.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3yjh9bfapFrpA2CUj_xHZXj7HcT8TvV-mBVpknLDrisny0tFPNRAGMgouEiDZ-evByYlGB8o32ZZayrHPmIeAWxM8AkRXDLDy_sUJ3RmxDzYImwiobWUJxfGAsJ6hXTioIB1WIGTHewv/s320/freelance_whales.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403104672836717346" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><div><br /></div><div>It's been a bit of a hiatus from the blog world. Not so much that I've been uninspired or uninterested, just a little busy. Luckily, I still get a daily listen into the music world (while doing other work) whether through following about 20 blogs, getting acquainted with the weeks new releases on tuesdays, or reading up in magazines. I really love finding new artists, albums and sounds. Unfortunately, for every enjoyable song I hear, I probably sit through at least portions of twenty truly terrible ones. Lucky for you, you won't find in this blog post any of those musical equivalents of a class of third graders learning "hot cross buns" on the recorder.</div><br />Recently I've been fortunate to stumble upon three new bands that I'm excited to share. First up: </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/freeenergymusic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Free Energy</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> out of Philly. I think they had a song featured on IMEEM at some point and it really struck me. This is that music that just feels good to me. It's fairly simple and playful and has those shades of Weezer accessibility that I remember first introducing me to a serious love of music when I was a young lad in Kansas. They recently had a west coast tour fall through but said they'll probably be in Cali in early 2010. Should be a fun show.<br /><br />Free Energy - Dream City<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315406-9f7"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315406-9f7" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />Free Energy - Free Energy<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315431-28f"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315431-28f" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Oh man do I love this band this week. Even better is the fact that I have tickets to see them at the Rickshaw Stop on November 22 for a mere $10. </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thefreelancewhales"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Freelance Whales</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> are out of Queens and put out a beautiful album, <i>Weathervanes</i>, recently. Chock full of songs influenced by the likes of Sufjan Stevens and The Postal Service and just a great listen.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />Freelance Whales - Location<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315798-b99"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315798-b99" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br />Freelance Whales - Generator ^ 2nd Floor<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315732-2ef"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315732-2ef" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.myspace.com/quebecantique"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Quebec Antique</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> released their debut album, <i>The Abbey Tapes</i>, and are relatively unknown out of Oregon, Texas. It's another really beautiful album, much sleepier and moody than the previous two, but check out the songs on their myspace page and I'm sure you'll really appreciate the build of their music and the swelling textures.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br />Quebec Antique - Right As Rain<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315467-029"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=9315467-029" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-59863774333510844362009-10-12T20:55:00.000-07:002009-10-12T23:33:47.985-07:00Folk-n-poke<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I recently learned that there is a sulfur hot water springs near San Luis Obispo that college students there affectionately refer to as the "soak-n-poke". While pondering what words may rhyme with "folk", I've struggled to think of anything else. Thanks a lot hot springs. Not surprisingly though, these two words could not be more opposite. Where there is folking, there's a good chance there's not a lot of poking, as many of the best folk artists tend to look like so:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7z9BCFTkUaVyYLTOk0VOXMVgAYhLGPkv26MY3qpA_kcf_ipgsy3gcBuHirXfWc3Iv3eUmjuV2q8lmbMrc_owu362l2lejspXAN72nm-sM4io4SssZnAXiETEXaK5QyX8jtO39PREfdsHG/s320/Music_Ricky_Skaggs.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391960445854652114" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">I watched the movie </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Sugar</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"> last night and midway through I recognized a Spanish version of the song "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. I don't know much about the man or his music, but remembered enjoying that song when I've heard it (although uncomfortable and confused as it played during a sex scene in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Watchmen</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">). This, along with last week's Strictly Bluegrass festival here in the city, got me thinking about my secret love for the genre. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Undoubtebly due to my parents, I've carried a fondness for folk music throughout my life. Consider this an intro to several upcoming posts on songs that I associate with my family, childhood and Kansas existence. As an adult, I've enjoyed the storytelling and moodiness of Neil Young and Mary Gauthier. It'll be interesting to look at the artists that my parents listen to and ultimately led me to find my own preferences in the folk genre.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYL_pQNDcYsybruJ4QICUWU0TpFydxu60IrI3t4rIOk-BsUUPsVtq0uuVfPrlgllDEESFZCmFG_yYARegfohOGqyjIHYJYBXOfj-0CLhgaiDH9Fd7YlIYXzh9SPSPMmXjugg9ZHX0CxjDL/s320/3087858813_23085aef41_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391963973792982402" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">(Papa Townsend in the tie and me trying to hide in the background on the far left)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If you like the following songs, I highly recommend the full albums on which they're found.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Neil Young - The Painter (from the album </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Prairie Wind</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">)<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=8882065-2b4"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=8882065-2b4" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Mary Gauthier - Mercy Now (from the album </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Mercy Now</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">)</span><br /><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=8882064-272"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=8882064-272" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-80795689111149478362009-09-29T01:00:00.000-07:002009-09-29T18:18:20.000-07:00The Return<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iuvXf1vgarInTHME3XsUqOOOzMfZOdyIPa082ie54AcyA0zePO5IaqhiX0a6WCPD7uweLp6T_rCMYEYp5c3mI1_JZ-JxjqGkthXhY_rdyfVdjM0bOdoNuz0Bhyphenhyphen3OSpKZkHYxltfdAho0/s1600-h/IMG_4841.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iuvXf1vgarInTHME3XsUqOOOzMfZOdyIPa082ie54AcyA0zePO5IaqhiX0a6WCPD7uweLp6T_rCMYEYp5c3mI1_JZ-JxjqGkthXhY_rdyfVdjM0bOdoNuz0Bhyphenhyphen3OSpKZkHYxltfdAho0/s320/IMG_4841.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386798988970885666" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><br /></div>After a long hiatus, I've been hard at work on my latest mix, figuring I'd need something big to re-enter the blog scene with. A lot has transpired in the music world since my last post. Kanye managed to annoy Mr. Smooth himself, Obama, some killer albums have been released by major DJs and a whole slew of remixes and dance music have continued to fill up my </span></span><a href="http://www.hypem.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Hype</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> watchlist. The noticeable number of really great new songs with female vocals that I had begun to gather led me to focus on that theme, bringing you the best of lady-centric danceables mixed with some current electronic favorites including </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/deadmau5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Deadmau5</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and locals </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/commodore069"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thrill$ N Grillz</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Looking forward to co-hosting a big halloween party with the other half of DJBN, so mark your calendars. To get you revved up for the event, I give you the "<b>GIRLS NIGHT OUT</b>" Mix.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',serif;"><i>WARNING: EXPLICIT LYRICS</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',serif;"><br /></span></div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" id="divplaylist" width="335" height="28"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=8687164-444"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=8687164-444" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="335" height="28"></embed></object><div><a href="http://www.divshare.com/download/8687164-444"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Download MP3</span></span></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Setlist:</b></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; min-height: 13px;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Everybody's Fancy - Mister Rogers</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Duck N Cover (DJBN Vocal Edit) - Thrill$ N Grillz </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Give It All You Got (ft. Kree) - Lil' Jon</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Township Funk (Crazy P Remix)(DJBN Vocal Edit) - Mujava</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm Not Your Toy (datA Remix) - La Roux</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shirley You Can't Be Serious? - Alex Metric</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Right Hand Hi - Kid Sister</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Poker Face (Paul Anthony & ZXX Remix)</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tick Tock - Kesha</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Moar Ghosts N Whatever - Deadmau5</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">New In Town (A1 Bassline Remix) - Little Boots</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Waking Up In Vegas (Calvin Harris Remix) - Katy Perry</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Something Bigger, Something Better - Amanda Blank</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Keep It Goin' Louder (ft. Nina Sky & Ricky Blaze) - Major Lazer</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Shove It (ft. Spankrock) - Santogold</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Bulletproof (Foamo Remix) - La Roux</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">_Michael</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Lucida Grande';font-size:11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',serif;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-32793549311841023872009-07-21T23:40:00.000-07:002009-07-22T23:46:31.267-07:00"Study" Abroad<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">There's this lady I know that has a </span></span><a href="http://asundrenchedelsewhere.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">blog about travel</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">. It's in its beginning stages, but is interesting and a good way for her to express, digest and discuss this quasi obsession of hers. I was thinking tonight about various great experiences I've had while traveling and also about certain memory triggers. Does your life unfold to a soundtrack?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQ2hROFrnUmY03PUBXNUfd9Q9Ew5IkJ7M7qN9312NX8yMM23opdyyf1yVzUDcC1elkhG9VUaNMEzkEnGT9fEluPwRIhr_tqpYfGv78NfWADHd22uEO5dRjCuzpnkclnHwk5hRygXzj86H/s320/1204490570_06b2c935a6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361536385196895810" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A defining moment in my life on multiple levels was my four months studying abroad in Italy in 2005. It was an unbelievable experience and an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">immersion</span> that was completely foreign to me in my life to that point. That semester brought with it powerful memories of food, cities, landscapes, trains, language, cultural events, wine, history and architecture, and great friends. Now, along with the </span></span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaeltownsend/sets/72157601597121416/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">collection of photos</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> and storytelling, I have strong association of certain music to this events to trigger memories. A classmate and friend of mine, Mike <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Baskett</span>, let me copy some albums from his laptop while we were studying in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Castiglion</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Fiorentino</span> and introduced me to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Dntel</span> and The Wrens (no, not the old R&B group).</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As I'm sure most college students across the US at the time were, we had this little obsession with The Postal Service a few years prior and when I heard that James Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Tamborello</span> has earlier been involved in the solo project, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Dntel</span>, I was intrigued. As is common, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Dntel</span> strikes me as the experimental and more abstract origin of the Postal Service pop approachability. This was perfect for providing a spacey epic backdrop that kind of stutters and pops as it stumbles out of the headphones. I hear this and imagine myself sitting alone at Villa <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">D'Este</span> sketching, or taking a moment to soak it all in at the top of the mountain over Lake Como.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><br /></div>Dntel - Anywhere Anyone<br /></span></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7972822-729"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7972822-729" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfMLX9GPgd9oRoe_iHE5o9J1dfk6djczZBCbPxCcmjOWEjVR4a7bKBI2INSXFUOnAIeGRmy7BA2BZ1kfqn3NQPfEKCAbDhxAs_S9HQjhAkahShMhs0dxQlLVQftrG252bYWdryQp-Xl1r/s320/1203636197_5029287759.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361536073971427810" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Wrens appealed to me in a much more simple and irrational way. Living in New Jersey and with very little mainstream success, this group had just the right amount of obscurity and pep to keep me interested. I don't really remember falling in love with their 2002 album, The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Meadowlands</span>, but I do know that I played it over and over again. I even have a very distinct memory of listening to a song while walking up the hill in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Castiglion</span> to the bus stop some random morning. This is striking to me because I have a poor memory in general and retain very little unless it has an emotional or strong visual impact on me. I can't really explain that bust stop memory at all.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><br /></div>The Wrens - This Boy Is Exhausted<br /></span></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7972965-430"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7972965-430" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dN5D7wvI1h83FCRA31M9tU0_RBSxZd2Vxssiw4wRmGRombS9RjwXdOZB4zK2JxEKPQjEubIbSaSG-7cdfdEEKLIiZEsVcHrMghn8w6oonChwq7LGGcudRexpDM0FeXukZGwZb6xU9XaH/s320/1204488400_ef9b7fa997.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361538956584643218" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thanks to Mike B!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">_Michael T</span></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-5108319297075104432009-07-20T10:23:00.000-07:002009-07-20T10:54:27.502-07:00Two friends, two shows<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If you're looking for a break from your routine. I have a couple of great options for you this week. Tomorrow night, Justin (</span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/commodore069"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Commodore 69</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">) will be DJing at his monthly Laszlo show, Computer Rock. They've been known to play killer music, project nintendo on the wall, and generally keep you up past your bedtime on a school night. This month hosts a special birthday celebration for local </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/nonewyorkyork"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">NONEWYORK</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/nonewyorkyork"></a><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrzi6K4KVbVTWApgZZM9JAEXHvqC_py8yzwYozloyOQ3mEtcN3V-TakvYjxvNZ2ghIejrMrIdu5IKXCJGqFW55JQcsyd5SYOJjFq_Q3h9OvwRkO2tg7BaaAqKOfFL0OpL_CVWBRmWuiep/s320/nony2.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 229px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360601515575221922" /><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">---</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Thursday night at Hotel Utah, Tanner will destroy your eardrums as a part of the band </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/raisedbairobots"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Raised By Robots</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. Their shows are always energetic, loud and unpredictable including a recently added horn section. You can also check out their eclectic sound on </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/raisedbyrobots.muxtape.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">muxtape</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">. If you listen closely, you may just hear the subtle noises of stage diving.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1Xv6lVzNNFayj3P-h7ph_HJUHWg7itzxR03iaBhPP8ArUv5ekrfav1cbfFJqDUQDR9jsEmu-xJOX-SOxA3b_32GZepKsMi4rNqc6pOulrwIXRQCuetv_EYgU7iuA6M8cAm63o3Sm3uhr/s320/Hotel-Utah-Poster.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 223px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360601166847851026" /></div><div><br /></div><div>_Michael</div></div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-26939062870501628392009-07-13T09:23:00.000-07:002009-07-13T10:18:57.125-07:00Live and in person<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaV6EqCtHrPQy-JE_gNBuV4626j_yoeYIPXoFS-cDR5e-RP7DR-_FwyiG_L5S0t26GZFFC_GZ2DKYYAdz_SlXFQbkb5ecZvhJWr-pg3vKV8_VBxz_efbA-ousPz2_mfM2pRO7dl4wqs3o/s1600-h/LykkeLi_IndSF1-742939.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaV6EqCtHrPQy-JE_gNBuV4626j_yoeYIPXoFS-cDR5e-RP7DR-_FwyiG_L5S0t26GZFFC_GZ2DKYYAdz_SlXFQbkb5ecZvhJWr-pg3vKV8_VBxz_efbA-ousPz2_mfM2pRO7dl4wqs3o/s320/LykkeLi_IndSF1-742939.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357993122901975554" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><div><br /></div>The </span></span><a href="http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/feb/11/business/chi-wed-kot-ticketmaster-feb11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ticketmaster / Live Nation merger</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">, yet another bully monopoly move in the corporate world, has been on my mind lately after reading the lengthy article about ticket prices in a recent issue of Rolling Stone. As a consumer, I'm obviously unnerved by the fact that ticket price averages have tripled in the past 15 years (~$25 to $65) and Ticketmaster can easily be held responsible for that atypical percentage increase. It is also, to some degree, a reflection of the evolving business. Many artists make most of their money on live shows, where they get a big cut of the earnings, as opposed to the ever-increasing inconsistency in revenue from albums sales where the record companies reap most of the profit. I'd always rather the money go to the artist, but concert prices are increasingly making live shows less accessible to the average consumer.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Luckily, there are still options even in the most obscure of places. I have many fond memories of seeing live shows of small unknown bands at small unknown venues. I grew up driving to places like </span></span><a href="http://www.thebottlenecklive.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Bottleneck</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> in Lawrence, KS (among others) and was happy to see they still sell tickets independent of ticketmaster. Similarly, here in San Francisco, you can see amazing shows at </span></span><a href="http://independentsf.com/index.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Independent</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> for low prices and avoid the ticketmaster trap. Here are some upcoming shows I'm excited for:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">July 16</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kanye West's DJ, </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/djatrak"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A-Trak</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> will rock the stage with opening acts from Theophilus London, Treasure Fingers, and I've heard rumors of Rye Rye.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">August 25</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Chicago/Portland band </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/thefruitbats"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fruit Bats</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> will be on tour promoting their upcoming album under the killer label Sub Pop.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">September 18</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Out of Selkirk, Scotland and now in Glasgow, </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/frightenedrabbit"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Frightened Rabbit</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> are a great band who recorded a fantastic album with an even better title, Midnight Organ Fight.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">September 19</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Victoria Christina Hesketh, known as </span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/littlebootsmusic"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Little Boots</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> out of the UK released the album Hands recently to provide you with even more 20 something girly "good time" pop music.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Follow the artist links and check out some of their tracks. Even more good news? All of these shows are under 20 bucks. What?!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 19px; font-family:'trebuchet ms';">_Michael</span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6655753759165498399.post-83735439825934902062009-07-12T19:26:00.000-07:002009-07-12T21:27:11.608-07:00You know that one time when I said...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHS7d6M_91-F24wlI4u6shC5L-d78UnBEH6RqrxnanWWpYncZ4mr7xdVKLxe7P6JORBKgUWbKKR7EbsUDAZpKNJsJwluuSqJ44EkJXiSthCLrOk-LC68QtLlRWBjZxe7rwO0-zr2w-mLC/s1600-h/Iggy_pop_davis_b&w_1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHS7d6M_91-F24wlI4u6shC5L-d78UnBEH6RqrxnanWWpYncZ4mr7xdVKLxe7P6JORBKgUWbKKR7EbsUDAZpKNJsJwluuSqJ44EkJXiSthCLrOk-LC68QtLlRWBjZxe7rwO0-zr2w-mLC/s320/Iggy_pop_davis_b&w_1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357773426964710962" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If you know me well, you know that I often find myself complaining about vocals. It's safe to say that in general, whacked out vocal styles just don't do it for me. Don't whine, don't fake an accent, don't make your voice shudder. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">--insert autotune debate here--</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">If I'm aware of some deeper artistic expression and/or rebellion, well okay I'm inclined to appreciate that, aka the punk movement. If, however, I feel like you're just trying to get a rise of your hipster fanbase, I'm done. Equally painful, but more at the level of sympathy, when a band has great instrumental and songwriting potential, but decides it's okay to let someone sing who obviously cannot. If your band's signature sound is not purpose-driven, but merely a result of a lack of talent, you've got to wonder.</span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">All that said, I find myself regularly breaking my own rules. For reasons I cannot explain, I present to you three groups that I keep adding to my present listening rotation, despite their borderline painful shaky, nasally or awkward voices. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy; ">So I eat my words, enjoy!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;">_Michael</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight<br /></span><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7895973-7f5"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7895973-7f5" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Passion Pit - Little Secrets</span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7895975-cbb"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7895975-cbb" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Empire of the Sun - We Are the People</span></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=8,0,0,0" width="335" height="28" id="divplaylist"><param name="movie" value="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7895974-164"><embed src="http://www.divshare.com/flash/playlist?myId=7895974-164" width="335" height="28" name="divplaylist" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', -webkit-fantasy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', fantasy;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06663359690026041657noreply@blogger.com0