New Beginings: The Fresh Apart.

For this weeks theme on Newness I have opted for the re inventive imagination of cover songs. A cover is simply a new performance or new recording of a previously recorded track. The tracks I have chosen for this weeks installment reinvent the original recording and add a fresh twist onto an already popular and established song. The familiarity creativity and a willingness to gamble by such radical cover is what  originally attracts  the lister and establishes a sense of revival or a new beginning. What’s more, is that the skill and creative mind needed to pull off such an altered cover is tremendous but is often forgotten

First up on your box I have Ben L’Oncle Soul’s cover of the The White Stripes’ Seven Nation Army. Although Ben keeps the original rhythm and structure of the track the same, he delivers it in such a soulful way, cleverly adding a brass section and that classic 1970’s organ screech which in turn masks the original intent of the song. This track in itself re-establishes the texture of the number while seemingly re-evaluating the original  message. Ben does a great job on this track and is gaining much international recognition for his efforts.
Ben L’oncle Soul – Seven Nation Army

Devendra Banhart will always be known for his revival of psychedelic folk and the playful manner in which he did it in. The same is true for his reinterpretation of  Oasis’ Morning Glory Classic Don’t Look Back in Anger. Although Oasis is known for their ever present Beatles influence, Banhart in a more vague way hides his American Folk tendencies behind his Shaman like persona. While presenting this cover in an almost awkward fashion Banhart digs deep into this track and tampers with its original essence, transforming it into something of his own and removing whatever Brit pop tendencies one could find. Please enjoy this one.

Devendra Banhart – Don’t Look Back in Anger

Most famous for their reinterpretation of Pink Floyd’s Money, the Easy Star All Stars have dubbed out a number of classic albums. Their reinvention of Radiohead’s Exit Music (for a Film) however re-establishes the once art rock track into what seems to be a dub original. There is nothing familiar about this track expected for the lyrics which are vague as well . The Easy Stars do a great with reinventing this Kid A staple while remaining true to their own original themes.

Easy Star All Stars – Exit Music (for a Film)

The Goodie Bag: TRICKS & TREES

Halloween is upon us, yes my favorite of all party weekends, and while finances do not allow me to travel to Ottawa this weekend, Toronto will have to do. In celebration of this great weekend of wildness and scantly clad girls i have a couple tracks to help the weekend along. I got a goodie bag of tracks this time around, not like getting a can of soda pop in your Halloween bag to slow you down during your candy hiest. Aint got no suckers either, and yo fuck rockets, these tracks are comparable to the peanut butter cups and full size candy bars, you know the ones the rich neighborhood gives out. These bangers are no Monster Mash but pump these tracks and red riding hood will be asking you to be her big bad wolf. HOLLA.

A-Trak – Ray Band Vision ft. CyHi Da Prince

De La Soul – Rock Co. Kane Flow ft. MF Doom

MSTRKRFT – Bounce (ft. N.O.R.E & Isis)

Tiger Love – Pussy Cocaine

Jamiroquai – Cosmic Girl

* Note: All these tracks are intergal to a wonderful Halloween party, mix them into your own playlist and see the result. you will not be disappointed.

 

Please, don’t believe the hype.

With all the hype surrounding this new and fantastic Kayne West art film … i had to jump into to the blind pool that is popular culture and check out what all the talk was about. I had witnessed count downs on MuchMusic, yes they still play music videos, BET and much i mean much internet hype but had not heard much surrounding the content of the video and what was to be expected.

On my first attempt at watching the video … i made it about 4 or 5 mins in. The initial music was typical and the imagery confusing. Artsy for the simple sake of being artsy is the vibe i had initially gotten from this short. After stepping away for a while and doing a few other things i decided that while this in my opinion would not be an important piece of music history, the rest of the community might think so, i might seem like a fool for not at least giving it a chance.

I must say with much hesitation that for about 5 minute period i was intrigued. The diner party scene  as you will see (I have posted the infamous Kayne short) has some substance to it … although i feel that most of that particular part is a tad bit out of context, anyways! The reason that i am writing this in particular comes with only about 30 seconds left in the 35 min long film.

It seems to me that one of the most unfamiliar and slept on black figures in music culture is sampled. Gil Scott Heron himself is briefly sampled on one of the ending segments of the Kayne masterpiece. I had to take a double take or sorts to confirm my first reaction. I was shocked and confused to say the least but not overwhelming surprised. Although my opinion of Kanye for the most part is based not only on the music he releases but also the type of people that are drawn to his music, i was not overwhelmed to learn that Heron was in fact sampled. To me Kanye seems like somewhat of an enlightened cat, arrogant, but nonetheless intelligent so it does not surprise me to see such a revolutionary member of the black community used on the short film and of a self proclaimed influential member of the black community. Anyways the point of all this was simply to say: “I wonder how many Kayne West fans know who Gil Scott Heron is?”

I have posted a few of my favourite Heron tracks for this weeks post to humbly try and bring some awareness to this cat. Maybe do a little research and find out a little bit more about this cat … his work with poetry, class struggle and many more political issues. I must notei dont not write this post to be argumentative or simply hate on Kayne or pop culture in general, rather i write this to challenge the mainstream and remark on forgot minds and performers lost in what we call popular music today.

Gil Scott Heron – Winter in America

Gil Scott Heron – The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Gil Scott Heron – We Almost Lost Detroit

Enjoy these tracks, they are history.

 

SUCK MY TAPE DECK!

Been kind of lofting on this blog business lately but everyone once and a while ill find a track that will inspire me to write another one these seldom viewed blog thingies. so here we go. This week, it is the new Breakbot remix of Aeroplane’s Without lies … banger track as always from breakbot. With that i have got a couple of tracks to cheer you up as you realize fall is here and winter is just around the corner. Only have Soundcloud for the breakbot joint. weak! If i am able to finagle this track from some dark corner of the internet i will replace the link.

Aeroplane – Without Lies (Breakbot Remix Preview)

Yuksek – So Down ft. Chromeo

Escort, apparently is 17 piece band out of the ever trendy and hip Brooklyn NYC. This group, or rather army is on what seems to be a disco rival. Anyways whatever this small gang  is up to these track are dope as hell. check it out.

Escort – Cocaine Blues

Escort – Starlight (Darshan Jesrani Parks Dept. Dub)

WEEKENDS AINT FOR THE WEAK.

It is about that time again … when the weekend begins to show its rambunctious head and we all start to relish the lazy afternoon. Well if you are up for a party this weekend i might have some tunes to help that dream along. I do have a couple bangers this gloomy Thursday afternoon ready to be turned up in the days to come. A little disco, a little electro, some oldies, some new gems, some rock and roll, some slow burners, but all simply fresh. I have a weekend line up ready to throw down. so queue these tracks up accordingly.

Friday Afternoon (leaving work right on the dot).

Murdocks – Bloodsicle

immediately followed by this diamond as you hit your transit choice …

Deep Sea Arcade – Keep on Walking.

Friday Night.

Please note that Friday nights can go one of two ways. The first, as sad as it is, lets the anticipation on the weeks end kill you and when the time comes to present your dangerous party skills, you fold under pressure and under preform, heading to bed early and probably way too drunk. The second, however, nulls all the previous statements and the anticipation of the weeks blast you into a wild week. These tracks will help, and remember, keep on rocking in the free world.

84.85 – forty and a fistfight (GO GO Bizkitt Remix)

Chaka Khan – Fate (Todd Terje Edit)

Saturday.

When i wake up in the morning after a hard night i like to have some classics playing. Something with some funk and soul to it but at the same time real familiar.  Still feeling a little silly from the night before i usually like to spend a couple hours before i wake up in bed recovering and trying to get my life together. There is no formula for this whatever makes you happy but these are some of the tracks i like to (calculatedly) rock out to come Saturday morning. It is a long list …

Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks

Galactic – Think Back ft. Chali 2na

Freddie Scott – You Got What I Need

Bilal – Free

Saturday night is a huge night, everyone who possibly bailed on Friday’s adventure has been well rested and is kind of ready to let loose. These tracks are here to help facilitate this. enjoy.

The Pipettes – Stop the Music

Bibi Tanga & the Selenites – The Moon

Ben Mono ft. Bajka – Protection

French Horn Rebellion – This Moment

Jamiroquai – White Knuckle Ride

Quad City Dj’s – C’mon N’ Ride it

Sunday

Sunday … where i come from is ‘family day’. Get up after a wild ass night and head out for breakfast, for the most part the rule is Screwdrivers and Eggs Benedict but those are not limitations by any means. After a quick trip to the LCBO and the gas station for smokes the afternoon is spent watching iconic ’80′s flicks and drinking off the fog you worked up the night before. Here we have a few tunes to help the transition back to the work week move and little more smoothly.

Ray Lamontagne – Crazy (Gnarls Barkley cover)

Chromeo – Don’t Walk Away (Acoustic)

DJ Format – We Know Something ft. Akil & Chali 2na

Atmosphere – The Number None

Well, there you have it. enjoy the weekend.