Category
solar needs to come clean
I am saddened by the loss of Gang Starr MC, Keith Elam AKA Guru, to a battle with cancer Monday. And while I think that his memory should be for his life’s work, contribution to hip-hop and culture as a whole, I am troubled by the letter that was purported to be his final message to family and fans. If Guru was indeed in a coma since February until his passing, the letter would seem an obvious forgery. There are 5 other points in the letter that I find hard to swallow.
this is what you get
when you ban bands from doing a proper tour to coincide with your expensive festival:
shit
I was really disappointed to hear last night that Mark Linkous, the man behind Sparklehorse took his life yesterday. Although it was always the band name I was always least proud to mention that I was a fan of, his music was diverse and engaging, often delicate but not depressing. Sparklehorse easily eclipsed their start as a Cracker offshoot, and It’s A Wonderful Life is a perfect album that I could listen to for days on end. Oh, I also learned the word “fecund” from one of his lyrics.
most anticipated 2010
01. Oddisee-produced Finale album {05.25.2010} 02. Pavement reunion shows, maybe new material 03. Arcade Fire – LP3 {05.2010} 04. Beach House – Teen Dream {01.26.2010} [sample] 05. Black Milk – Album Of The Year [sample] 06. Frightened Rabbit – The Winter Of Mixed Drinks {03.09.2010} 07. Erykah Badu – New Amerykah, Part II: Return of [...]
favorite albums 2009
I’m the last man standing at hearsay this year, so sorry for the poor year-long and end-of-year showing. But I wanted to share my picks all the same, here they are. topomodesto’s favorites 2009: 01. Diamond District – In The Ruff [mixtape sampler] Released, at first, for free in order to grab attention; the fantastic [...]
favorite songs 2009
Most of these found their way onto the monthly mixes, with the exception of some of the more well-known songs. Here they are for you, provided again in a nice Muxtape-style Opentape format. Enjoy.
favorite videos 2009
After making my lists in 2006 and 2008, Matt & Kim finally hit the top by taking it all off. A couple unofficial versions of videos this year, which I think is pretty cool, but also probably says a little something about the economy. I don’t know if it really should qualify, but I’m also [...]
november 2009 mix
For a while now (and when I say a while I mean more than 3 days… more like since i started doing monthly mixes), I’ve wanted to do a delta blues-themed mix. But every month something new comes along that I really want to put on a mix and I scrap the blues for a more eclectic mix. Occasionally one or two blues tracks make it in to the otherwise indipophoptronicoul mixes, but this one is finally dedicated to being more of mood music than the other mixes. And it was hard too… this month the new Diamond District and Tap Tap nearly put me over the edge. Luckily my all-together behindedness assembling selections forced my hand. Yes there are a couple gospel tracks, a jazz track and a 60s blues track, but I think they all fit the mood. Mississippi Records (out of Portland, Not Mississippi) should get some credit for this mix, as I used 3 tracks from their own delta blues and gospel LPs. Go out and research further into any of these artists, there is plenty more to be rediscovered. Well, except maybe Radio Four… I don’t think there really is anything else by them.
detroit’s michigan central
I’ve made no secret that I consider Detroit my lost home (think The Odyssey). And the current coming of age of post-Dilla/post-Proof Detroit hip-hop has only furthered that appreciation for the city. I was disappointed last week when it was reported last week that Detroit’s city council had voted to force demolition of one of the gems of Detroit’s heritage, the long abandoned Michigan Central Train Depot.
most anticipated 2009
01. Foreign Born – Person To Person
02. Handsome Furs – Face Control {03.10.2009}
03. Nosaj Thing – debut album
04. Matt and Kim – Grand {01.20.2009}
05. Jay Electronica – Abracadabra: Let There Be Light
06. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone {03.03.2009}
07. Foundry Field Recordings – new album {01.2009}
08. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2 {03.2009}
09. Neckbeard Telecaster – debut album
10. Arcade Fire – in the studio, Miroir Noir, maybe LP3?