Here it is folks. Only 8 days late. I was feeling upbeat, summer songs, so I didn't dig too deep. Chances are you already know at least 4 of these songs. That doesn't make them any worse, though. Play this one loud in your car.
Flatbasset - June '09
Click on it, type in the letters and numbers, you know how this goes.
Flatbasset - June '09 Track List
01. Graham Parker & The Rumour - Discovering Japan
I actually got turned on to Graham Parker in a very roundabout way. Back at my old job we were doing Secret Santa one year and one of my co-workers who astutely noticed that I read books, bought me a couple books from a dollar bin. One of them was a collection of short stories by Graham Parker entitled Carp Fishing On Valium. It's just a bunch of short stories about growing up and living in England. Not the most exciting book I've ever read, but charming in its own way. Kind of like a wide-angle Fred Basset strip. Anyways, turns out nothing gets written about Graham Parker without mentioning the album Squeezing Out Sparks. Well, a cult-classic British album from the late 70's? Twist my arm why don't you? I tracked it down and found it thoroughly enjoyable. Parker draws lots of comparisons to Elvis Costello, both good and bad. It seems that he's put out a few great albums and plenty of clunkers in which he dabbles in other genres. Believe it or not, I haven't pursued those yet.
A quick note for my friends in MN, Parker plays a free annual Bastille Day show on the Brit's Pub lawn. It's usually just him and an acoustic guitar. Why a British guy would travel halfway around the world to play at a faux-British Pub on Bastille Day is beyond me. Just one of the perks of living in MPLS, I suppose.
02. Jeff Hanson - If I Only Knew
I put this one on here because Jeff Hanson died a couple of weeks ago in St. Paul. By all accounts he was a very friendly and well-respected fellow. If memory serves, Sarah interviewed him a couple of years ago of the UW music pages. Unfortunately, she's not here to give me any of her impressions.
03. The Cribs - My Life Flashed Before My Eyes
Sarah and I caught The Cribs last summer at the Varsity Theatre and they definitely lived up to the quality of their records. Drunken, shambolic, unpredictable... They tore through a version of "Bastards Of Young" that really got the crowd into it. They also called Babes In Toyland their favorite Twin Cities band. Also, if memory serves, I was told they covered "Princess & The Pony" while touring with Sean Na Na. If nothing else, this band has fantastic taste. Both The New Fellas and Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever are stellar, sloppy British punk albums that should definitely have a spot in your collection. Since their last album (Men's Needs...) they've added Johnny Marr to their lineup and promised a more mature sound. I love Johnny Marr (I mean, he does turn up later in this mix), but a "mature" Cribs albums sounds like a terrible idea.
Sidenote: If you ever want to see me make an ass of myself (I mean, y'know, moreso), get some alcohol in me and put one of the two aformentioned records on. I am incapable of hearing them while drinking and not singing along like I'm in a pub in Wakefield. It's not pretty.
04. Sugar Ray - Fly
I don't know how many of you are the right age to remember this, but every year from about 1998 to 2003, Sugar Ray would unveil a new single/album for the summer. These were such a guilty pleasure for an aspring punk like I me, but they were some fantastic songs. "Fly," "Someday," "When It's Over..." These songs are all brilliant little pop gems. Anyway, it wouldn't be summer without Sugar Ray.
05. Nellie McKay - The Dog Song
A song written by a quirky vegan New Yorker claiming that hounds can cure everything from rampant profanity to alcoholism? How could I not love this song?
I played this record while Sarah was home the other night and she couldn't believe it. She said it sounded like "showtunes" or "cabaret," which, I suppose, is true. Nonetheless, I've enjoyed just about everything Nellie McKay has released.
06. Talking Heads - Lifetime Piling Up
I'm no Talking Heads junkie. The only album I own is Sand In The Vanseline, a career retrospective that came out 18 years ago. This album is chronological and if I've learned one lesson from chronological greatest hits records, it's that the quality usually decreases the nearer you get to the end. That's true with this album, with this exception. Seems to me that this one was maybe one last gasp to remind everyone how great a band they once were before they burned out.
07. Jake One (w/Freeway & Brother Ali) - The Truth
This was a Current "Song Of The Day" a while back and, much like a 13 year old suburbanite, I just had to go to the store to buy the unedited version. White Van Music is basically a complilation album produced by Jake One and featuring a ton of good MC's (from De La Soul to Slug to Young Buck to DOOM to Busta Rhymes). The beats are all stellar. This album makes me miss owning a car.
Sidenote to Pheezy: Freeway (Philadelphia), Brother Ali (Minneapolis), and Jake One (Seattle)? This should be your theme song!
08. Wilco - Outtasite (Outta Mind)
Back before Wilco became "the American Radiohead" they were just a really, really good; forward thinking alt-country band. Don't get me wrong, I love pretty much their whole catalog, but they haven't sounded like they're actually having this much fun since Being There. Plus, tell me this one doesn't fit the "summer song" theme of this mix?
09. Dan Deacon - Snake Mistakes
Believe it or not, a couple of months ago I actually got a little bored with indie rock and hip-hop. I know, I didn't think it could happen either! So, in my desperation for something new, I downloaded a couple of Dan Deacon records (Spiderman Of The Rings & Bromst). I'm not really a fan of electronic records, but I needed a change of pace. Anyway, I wasn't sure an electronic album would be able to hold my attention (I always lose interest in Daft Punk albums after about 4 songs), but these two albums are actually pretty great. There's enough going on to hold your interest and enough left field sing alongs to make it fun.
I've heard that Dan Deacon live shows are more a circus then a concert. I read a review of his recent show at the Triple Rock and, apparently, at one point a giant conga line went from the stage through the bar, outside the bar door and back into the venue door. Good times.
10. Exit Clov - Sing Your Life
In celebration of Morrissey's 50th birthday last month, music blog TheMusicSlut had a bunch of indie groups record covers of Moz/Smiths songs and then gave them away over the course of the month. Unsurprisingly, the quality of the covers varies greatly. I thought this version of "Sing Your Life" (a vastly underrated Mozzer single) was just too charming not to share. Apparently Exit Clov is a SF-based psych-pop group fronted by two asian girls. Adorable!
TheMusicSlut is one of only two music blogs that I check daily (Culture Bully being the other). Definitely a nice site to stay up on things. Check it out if you get a minute. http://www.themusicslut.com/
11. The Replacements - I'm In Trouble
Oh Paul Westerberg... Such an asshole.
12. Mike Mictlan & Lazerbeak (w/P.O.S.) - Shux
In "Savion Glover" P.O.S. raps, "Smoking on kush made cats so apathetic/Can't beat 'em with a bat so we join 'em and spit the ethics." What P.O.S. meant by "ethics" is the DIY punk rock ethics that he grew up on and that the MPLS hip-hop scene has embraced to great success. This track off Hand Over Fist (which, if you haven't already, you should ABSOLUTELY pick up. In a year where Cecil Otter, Doomtree, and Atmosphere put out career-defining albums, this one was the best) is just an extension of those ethics. "We don't need no egos to be dope we just need a couch to crash on." Is this hip-hop or a H2O record? Good stuff.
13. Modest Mouse - Missed The Boat
This is a track that you've all probably heard enough times. Well, make your own mix. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank was released within a month or two of my initial move to Uptown. I used to blast this record with the windows down while I was shooting down 35W trying to get to work on time. The whole album is such a "summer in Uptown" album to me. Nothing but warm memories. Also, this track always makes Phil cringe. He knows why.
14. Outkast - Behold A Lady
Poor Andre 3000... Here he is trying to pull a decent girl while Paul Westerberg just tosses them aside. Life's tough, homey.
15. Kaiser Chiefs - You Can Have It All
This is pretty much the only track I enjoyed off the Kaiser Chief's first album Employment. I think it has a nice summer vibe. I love that looping synthesizer line that flows through the song.
Just for fun, here's a couple of Noel Gallagher quotes regarding Kaiser Chiefs:
"I did drugs for 18 years and I never got that bad as to say, 'You know what? I think the Kaiser Chiefs are brilliant'."
"I'm right into the Blur reunion, 'cause it'll finish off the Kaiser Chiefs" and put them to bed. There's nothing worse than a shit Blur. And at least the original shit Blur are back to finish off all these other shit Blurs. I'm bang into the Blur reunion."
Ha! That Noel. He's something special.
16. Atmosphere - Horny Ponycorn Horns
Margo Basset - She plays her horn!
Mack & Pee Wee - They play their horns!
Theodore Lawson - He plays his horn!
Joey Owen - He plays his horn!
Domino & Penny - They played their horns!
Tasha & Pinkerton - They play their horns!
Mikey Westphall - He plays his horn!
Buster & Rico - They play their horns!
Trixie & Soggy - They played their horns!
Hammy & Sherlock -They played their horns!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Some Things Will Always Be Great...
Last week The Mercury Lounge was declared an "irony-free" zone as Art Brut was in town for a week long residency. Thanks to an uncharacteristic amount of foresight, I managed to talk Sarah into buying tickets for the last night of the stand months ago.
I've actually seen Art Brut once before, when they were the openers for The Hold Steady at The State Theatre in Minneapolis. That was a fun show, but The State is waaaaay too big a venue to enjoy this band. However, The Mercury Lounge is about the size of the Triple Rock, which is a pretty small space for a band that has gotten fairly big.
This isn't technically a review, so it's going to be a bit scattered.
First, there was a couple of guys billed as "DJ's" providing music in between sets. I don't recall the name of these two jerk offs, but they were the saddest excuse for DJs I've ever seen (and I'm immediately skeptical of anyone calling themself as a DJ). There were two turntables, but zero vinyl, merely one cord plugged into the table and two guys with iPods. Two iPods, one plug. They actually took turns. And, evidently, neither one of them as ever used an iPod before, because they had the volume all the way up, distorting everything into a fuzzed out mess. AND they would randomly switch songs in the middle (again, a real DJ does this on turntables, sequencing and fading songs into each other. This was just a full stop, followed by a new song). Have you ever been in a car with someone who was hellbent on playing songs for you, so they just keep clicking new songs and you can't tell what you're listening too? Don't you hate that guy? Actually, that rings a little close to home... I digress...
So, if you've ever heard an Art Brut record (and if you've downloaded my podcasts, you have) it's easy to see how well these songs can translate live. The show was an absolute blast. Lots of energy (despite this being the fifth night) and lots of fun.
I was surprised by how much personality the rest of this band has. The show would have lacked quite a bit if it was just Eddie Argos doing his post-Jarvis Cocker strut, but each member of the band was fun to watch and didn't seem at all like Eddie's "backing band."
Here's the track list (sorry, it's not in order) followed by whatever random Eddie Argos quotes I can remember about/during/relating to each song:
Alcoholics Unanimous ("I can no longer just shout for coffee and tea when I'm hungover. All my friends think I'm just singing now.")
Rusted Gun Of Milan ("Here's a song about how bad I am at sex.")
What A Rush ("I've since overcome my sexual problems. Here's a song about that.")
DC Comics & Chocolate Milkshake ("Even though I'm nearly 30!")
The Passenger ("I used to think Iggy Pop's 'The Passenger' was about riding the bus but then I found out it was about doing heroin in a limousine. So I thought I should write a song about how much I love riding the bus. Here's the real 'The Passenger.'")
Demons Out! (Everyone should go out and start a band. Look how much fun we're having! Look at our faces! We're all hungover, but we're having loads of fun! Here's three reasons you should start a band: 1. More records in record shops 2. It's loads of fun 3. If you don't, I'll kick your head in!)
Slap Dash For No Cash ("My sex...is on fire...My SEX is on fire!...Am I human or am I dancer? Millions of dollars and this is the best they could come up with?!?)
Summer Job
Formed A Band ("Then we're going to write the song that brings the Indians and Pakis together. Easy Peasy.")
My Little Brother ("He's downloaded nothing but bootlegs and B-sides. He burned them onto a CD, which he then taped and gave to me." Absolute crowd favorite. Everybody was loving it.)
Emily Kane ("I've actually met Emily now. She's got a boyfriend and I've got a girlfriend, so we're both happy in our own way, but this song helped me meet her. Can you believe it? So this song in no long about Emily Kane, but about the power of rock n roll." Also, the fade out featured Argos singing "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out." Clever.)
Modern Art (Actually performed twice, first as "DC Comics Makes Me Want To Rock Out." He prefaced this new version with a story of going to the DC offices and how great it was. "Of course, I phoned my mum right afterward and I was very excited. 'I've just gone to the DC Comics headquarters!' To which my mum replied, 'Oh that's nice. Did you meet Spiderman then?'"
Good Weekend (Still very enthusiastic about seeing this girl naked twice. Twice!)
Bad Weekend
St. Pauli (Allegedly this wasn't on the set list. A couple of superfans who had been there all week got them to play it.)
Nag Nag Nag Nag
"On the bass guitar: Art Brut!"
"On the lead guitar: Art Brut!"
"On rhythm guitar: Art Brut!"
"And on drums: Art Brut!"
So that's it. I was actually a little disappointed they didn't play a little more from It's A Bit Complicated, but that's minor complaint. If they turn up in your city, be sure to catch them.
Oh yeah, and one quick piss off to the hipsters standing behind us who acted too cool to buy into the "encore" routine. "Oh yeah, I'm going to cheer. Like they're not coming back out." Art Brut returns, "Oh yeah! Three more songs!" Listen, we all know it's kind of ridiculous, but just shut the fuck up. You're not more clever then the rest of us for realizing they'd probably come back out regardless of the amount of applause. If it bothers you that much, just leave after the intial set. Or vote with your dollars and don't go to shows featuring bands who perform encores. Or better yet, stay the fuck in Williamsburg and just be too cool for any show that's in a proper venue.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Flatbasset Mix - May '09
Hey, I realize this is a day late. However, since my dad is the only one to comment on any of the previous mixes, I'm willing to wager very few of you were up late on a Friday night, frantically refreshing the Flatbasset blog, "Where's the mix? Where's the mix? I need sleep, but I need tracks! WHERE IS THE MIX? I swear to god, I'm never checking this blog again!" and so on and so on...
Anyway, it's Saturday. Have some songs.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1W4I1Q3P
Click the link, put in the number/letter combo that proves you're living, click download now and delete everything else on your iPod. You won't need it any longer.
Flatbasset - May '09 Track List (click track titles to download individual songs)
01. The Alarmists - Little Hands
I was reading The City Pages "Best Of The Twin Cities" issue the other day. You can imagine my surprise when the award for "Best Band To Break Up In The Last 12 Months" went to The Alarmists! I had no idea they'd broken up! I miss being at the center of the MPLS scene. Here I am getting my news from "best of" issues of the City Pages. Sad.
Anyway, it's not like they were the second coming of The Replacements or anything like that, but I thought they were a good band. I saw them play a great mini-set at The Fetus to celebrate the release of The Ghost And The Hired Gun. Plus, when Sarah heard this song, she told me she thought it sounded like "Counting Blue Cars" by Dishwalla. The fact that you and I can both still sing the chorus of that song means this must be a compliment, right?
02. The Cool Kids - The Delivery Man
I downloaded this song for free of a site called Green Label Sound. As near as I can tell, it's Mountain Dew's attempt at cross-promotion with pop music. Now, I understand that the music industry has gone pear-shaped in the last 5-10 years and that even the most established acts are having to resort to new means to get their music out and make money. The part I really don't understand is Mountain Dew's approach. I mean, I didn't even have to buy a Mountain Dew to get some stupid code from a bottlecap to download the song. I just went to the site. I still have no desire to purchase or consume Mountain Dew, but I do have a new Cool Kids song. How exactly does Mountin Dew come out ahead on this one?
03. Bruce Springsteen - Girls In Their Summer Clothes
If you don't know why this song ended up on the mix you probably should've put on some pants and gone for a stroll around the neighborhood at some point last week.
04. Animal Collective - Who Could Win A Rabbit?
I've never claimed to understand hipsters and their fickle tastes. Try as I might, I just can't figure out why everybody is lining up to jerk these guys off. I got sucked in by the hype and tracked down copies of both Sung Tongs and Feels. This is the only track off either of those albums I wanted to listen to twice. I think it shows what an interesting band they can be when they change the rules from within a typical pop song structure, rather than trying to rewrite the rules at the expense of hooks.
05. Why? - The Hollows
I was a little late to the party when it came to Alopecia, but fuck it. Lord knows it's got my attention now. I love the "all my homies warned me..." bit. It's the type of situation that would only happen to Yoni Wolf, and only he would make you feel jealous of the experience.
06. Sean Na Na - Photo Booth
This is off Sean Na Na's Family Trees album, which I thought was criminally underrated by the local and national media. I sometimes wish we could all completely forget that Har Mar Superstar even exists (nothing against Har Mar, I dig those records). But nothing done under the "Sean Na Na" moniker is ever judged on it's own merits and that's a damn shame. He's written at least one of my ten favorite songs of all time and at least a half-dozen other classics.
07. Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
Over the course of reading a couple of reviews of the new Pet Shop Boys album, I couldn't help but notice that every review mentioned their Discography: The Singles Collection, um, collection. I downloaded it and I have to say it is pleasantly enjoyable. It's certainly a very "British" album (and if you know what I mean by that, lucky you), which always helps in my book.
So, usually if I downloaded an artist's "Best Of" album and enjoyed it as much as I did this one, I'd go back to the beginning and check out their first album and start putting the puzzle together. However, I've learned something about dance music over the years: There is almost no reason to go back and explore the, for lack of a better term, "deep cuts." New Order, Depeche Mode, these guys... Their singles are brilliant little things to enjoy. The rest usually ranges from "boring" to "drivel." Don't say you weren't warned.
Also, if you ever wondered where Flight Of The Conchords got the idea for "Inner City Pressure," here ya go.
08. DOOM - That's That
I have to be in the right mood to enjoy MF Dooom/Madvillain/Viktor Vaughn/DangerDoom/DOOM and, honestly, this whole Born Like This albums does it for me. Unlike most hip-hop critics, I wasn't waiting and wondering what had happened to MF Doom since he disappeared a few years back. If he turned up again, great. If not, he left a nice body of work. So when I listen to this album, without all of the "comeback" weight attached to it, I find it to be refreshing. There are almost no choruses. Most of the tracks are constructed just like this one, just a good beat and DOOM pressing the accelerator.
Plus this track has a Christopher Lloyd sample. I'm not sure why that scores points in my brain, but it just does. And DOOM does rock grandma like the kumbaya.
09. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan Said Dance
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (or CYHSY if you're an idiot) got chewed up and spit out by the post-CD music industry a few years back. I always see this band and Tapes 'N Tapes in the same light because each band was thrown under the spotlight when, after thin but interesting debuts, they just weren't ready. Each put out more interesting and complex second albums that were dismissed almost immediately. Seriously, if you're an indie rock fan (or a fan of either of these bands first albums that was put off by the bad reviews), do yourself a favor and block out the blogosphere for half an hour and judge the albums on their own.
10. The Roots - The Seed (2.0)
If Satan commanding you wasn't enough to get your sexy ass on the dance floor this should probably do it.
11. Soul Asylum - Runaway Train
I was at a bar in Brooklyn a few weeks back when I was caught in the throes of a serious case of jukebox fever. As usual, I immediately started looking for Minnesota bands to play repeatedly. Amazingly, Soul Asylum was all I could find. So, fuck it, I thought, it's time for one of the classics.
As I was listening to it, I realized that I really like this song. In fact, Soul Asylum was a pretty great band. And that's not irony. This is my real blogging voice. With the exception of a dozen Prince singles and one Lipps, Inc. single, this is the biggest song to come out of Minnesota. I mean, "Closing Time" put up a good fight, but you and I both know Dan Wilson didn't have sex with Winona Ryder. And not just that, but Grave Dancers Union sold more copies than all The Replacements albums combined. Obivously, Soul Asylum isn't The Replacements. Lord knows, no one is The Replacements. My point is, it's time to embrace this band and their contribution to Minnesota's national reputation. To paraphrase David Bowie, "Fuck You. I Like Soul Asylum."
12. RJD2 (w/Blueprint, Vast Aire, Aesop Rock, & Murs) - Final Frontier (Remix)
I don't really know what to say about this one. If I have to explain why I put a song with Print, Aes Rizzle, and Murs on one of my mixes, you probably don't really know me that well.
It always cracks me up when Aesop Rock turns up on other people's tracks. I'm a big fan of Blueprint and Murs, but I'm always blown away when Aes is right next to them. It's like I put myself in a different headspace to listen to Aesop Rock albums, so when he turns up on more straight-ahead tracks, I'm just not prepared for it.
13. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Lie Down Here (And Be My Girl)
I was reading about Nick Cave the other day and I read that he's a devout Christian who sometimes preaches. Could you imagine Nick fucking Cave preaching! That "Red Right Hand" voice going on about fire and brimstone and some nonbelievers-be-damned type stuff?!? Yikes!
14. Kidz In The Hall - Mr. Alladatshit
I caught these guys opening up for Mictlan & Lazerbeak at the Hand Over Fist record release show at the Entry last winter. I thought they were really sharp. I kind of wish Mark McKinney was somehow involved, though.
I suppose it's appropriate that my sister actually commented on this playlist, as this is the second Chicago hip hop track to make the mix this month. That means Kanye, The Cool Kids, and Kidz In The Hall have all thrown down for Chi-Town on Flatbasset. Don't feel bad, Common. You'll write a song I want to hear twice someday.
15. Buffalo Springfield - Broken Arrow
I bought this record (Buffalo Springfield's Again) when Sarah and I went to Nashville over the summer. Every now and then I become obsessed with it. Neil Young is as hit-and-miss as they come and with this one I thought he wrote a great closer. Keep in mind, this was in the days of the LP, when the opener and closer on each side of the album was prime real estate. In a band full of songwriters, Young got the first spot on the album and the last. Then he left the band. Now he writes songs about electric cars. I'd like to see a chart of his career arc.
Anyway, it's Saturday. Have some songs.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=1W4I1Q3P
Click the link, put in the number/letter combo that proves you're living, click download now and delete everything else on your iPod. You won't need it any longer.
Flatbasset - May '09 Track List (click track titles to download individual songs)
01. The Alarmists - Little Hands
I was reading The City Pages "Best Of The Twin Cities" issue the other day. You can imagine my surprise when the award for "Best Band To Break Up In The Last 12 Months" went to The Alarmists! I had no idea they'd broken up! I miss being at the center of the MPLS scene. Here I am getting my news from "best of" issues of the City Pages. Sad.
Anyway, it's not like they were the second coming of The Replacements or anything like that, but I thought they were a good band. I saw them play a great mini-set at The Fetus to celebrate the release of The Ghost And The Hired Gun. Plus, when Sarah heard this song, she told me she thought it sounded like "Counting Blue Cars" by Dishwalla. The fact that you and I can both still sing the chorus of that song means this must be a compliment, right?
02. The Cool Kids - The Delivery Man
I downloaded this song for free of a site called Green Label Sound. As near as I can tell, it's Mountain Dew's attempt at cross-promotion with pop music. Now, I understand that the music industry has gone pear-shaped in the last 5-10 years and that even the most established acts are having to resort to new means to get their music out and make money. The part I really don't understand is Mountain Dew's approach. I mean, I didn't even have to buy a Mountain Dew to get some stupid code from a bottlecap to download the song. I just went to the site. I still have no desire to purchase or consume Mountain Dew, but I do have a new Cool Kids song. How exactly does Mountin Dew come out ahead on this one?
03. Bruce Springsteen - Girls In Their Summer Clothes
If you don't know why this song ended up on the mix you probably should've put on some pants and gone for a stroll around the neighborhood at some point last week.
04. Animal Collective - Who Could Win A Rabbit?
I've never claimed to understand hipsters and their fickle tastes. Try as I might, I just can't figure out why everybody is lining up to jerk these guys off. I got sucked in by the hype and tracked down copies of both Sung Tongs and Feels. This is the only track off either of those albums I wanted to listen to twice. I think it shows what an interesting band they can be when they change the rules from within a typical pop song structure, rather than trying to rewrite the rules at the expense of hooks.
05. Why? - The Hollows
I was a little late to the party when it came to Alopecia, but fuck it. Lord knows it's got my attention now. I love the "all my homies warned me..." bit. It's the type of situation that would only happen to Yoni Wolf, and only he would make you feel jealous of the experience.
06. Sean Na Na - Photo Booth
This is off Sean Na Na's Family Trees album, which I thought was criminally underrated by the local and national media. I sometimes wish we could all completely forget that Har Mar Superstar even exists (nothing against Har Mar, I dig those records). But nothing done under the "Sean Na Na" moniker is ever judged on it's own merits and that's a damn shame. He's written at least one of my ten favorite songs of all time and at least a half-dozen other classics.
07. Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls
Over the course of reading a couple of reviews of the new Pet Shop Boys album, I couldn't help but notice that every review mentioned their Discography: The Singles Collection, um, collection. I downloaded it and I have to say it is pleasantly enjoyable. It's certainly a very "British" album (and if you know what I mean by that, lucky you), which always helps in my book.
So, usually if I downloaded an artist's "Best Of" album and enjoyed it as much as I did this one, I'd go back to the beginning and check out their first album and start putting the puzzle together. However, I've learned something about dance music over the years: There is almost no reason to go back and explore the, for lack of a better term, "deep cuts." New Order, Depeche Mode, these guys... Their singles are brilliant little things to enjoy. The rest usually ranges from "boring" to "drivel." Don't say you weren't warned.
Also, if you ever wondered where Flight Of The Conchords got the idea for "Inner City Pressure," here ya go.
08. DOOM - That's That
I have to be in the right mood to enjoy MF Dooom/Madvillain/Viktor Vaughn/DangerDoom/DOOM and, honestly, this whole Born Like This albums does it for me. Unlike most hip-hop critics, I wasn't waiting and wondering what had happened to MF Doom since he disappeared a few years back. If he turned up again, great. If not, he left a nice body of work. So when I listen to this album, without all of the "comeback" weight attached to it, I find it to be refreshing. There are almost no choruses. Most of the tracks are constructed just like this one, just a good beat and DOOM pressing the accelerator.
Plus this track has a Christopher Lloyd sample. I'm not sure why that scores points in my brain, but it just does. And DOOM does rock grandma like the kumbaya.
09. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Satan Said Dance
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (or CYHSY if you're an idiot) got chewed up and spit out by the post-CD music industry a few years back. I always see this band and Tapes 'N Tapes in the same light because each band was thrown under the spotlight when, after thin but interesting debuts, they just weren't ready. Each put out more interesting and complex second albums that were dismissed almost immediately. Seriously, if you're an indie rock fan (or a fan of either of these bands first albums that was put off by the bad reviews), do yourself a favor and block out the blogosphere for half an hour and judge the albums on their own.
10. The Roots - The Seed (2.0)
If Satan commanding you wasn't enough to get your sexy ass on the dance floor this should probably do it.
11. Soul Asylum - Runaway Train
I was at a bar in Brooklyn a few weeks back when I was caught in the throes of a serious case of jukebox fever. As usual, I immediately started looking for Minnesota bands to play repeatedly. Amazingly, Soul Asylum was all I could find. So, fuck it, I thought, it's time for one of the classics.
As I was listening to it, I realized that I really like this song. In fact, Soul Asylum was a pretty great band. And that's not irony. This is my real blogging voice. With the exception of a dozen Prince singles and one Lipps, Inc. single, this is the biggest song to come out of Minnesota. I mean, "Closing Time" put up a good fight, but you and I both know Dan Wilson didn't have sex with Winona Ryder. And not just that, but Grave Dancers Union sold more copies than all The Replacements albums combined. Obivously, Soul Asylum isn't The Replacements. Lord knows, no one is The Replacements. My point is, it's time to embrace this band and their contribution to Minnesota's national reputation. To paraphrase David Bowie, "Fuck You. I Like Soul Asylum."
12. RJD2 (w/Blueprint, Vast Aire, Aesop Rock, & Murs) - Final Frontier (Remix)
I don't really know what to say about this one. If I have to explain why I put a song with Print, Aes Rizzle, and Murs on one of my mixes, you probably don't really know me that well.
It always cracks me up when Aesop Rock turns up on other people's tracks. I'm a big fan of Blueprint and Murs, but I'm always blown away when Aes is right next to them. It's like I put myself in a different headspace to listen to Aesop Rock albums, so when he turns up on more straight-ahead tracks, I'm just not prepared for it.
13. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Lie Down Here (And Be My Girl)
I was reading about Nick Cave the other day and I read that he's a devout Christian who sometimes preaches. Could you imagine Nick fucking Cave preaching! That "Red Right Hand" voice going on about fire and brimstone and some nonbelievers-be-damned type stuff?!? Yikes!
14. Kidz In The Hall - Mr. Alladatshit
I caught these guys opening up for Mictlan & Lazerbeak at the Hand Over Fist record release show at the Entry last winter. I thought they were really sharp. I kind of wish Mark McKinney was somehow involved, though.
I suppose it's appropriate that my sister actually commented on this playlist, as this is the second Chicago hip hop track to make the mix this month. That means Kanye, The Cool Kids, and Kidz In The Hall have all thrown down for Chi-Town on Flatbasset. Don't feel bad, Common. You'll write a song I want to hear twice someday.
15. Buffalo Springfield - Broken Arrow
I bought this record (Buffalo Springfield's Again) when Sarah and I went to Nashville over the summer. Every now and then I become obsessed with it. Neil Young is as hit-and-miss as they come and with this one I thought he wrote a great closer. Keep in mind, this was in the days of the LP, when the opener and closer on each side of the album was prime real estate. In a band full of songwriters, Young got the first spot on the album and the last. Then he left the band. Now he writes songs about electric cars. I'd like to see a chart of his career arc.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Flatbasset - April '09
Hey. It's the first of the month so I slapped together an hour worth of songs to help you slosh through that terrible spring weather.
Flatbasset - April '09
As always, click the link, put in the number/letter combo that proves you're living, click download now and there you are.
Flatbasset - April '09 Track List (click the track name to download)
01. Dillinger Four - A Jingle For The Product
The first track of the new Dillinger Four album C I V I L W A R. I've never been the biggest D4 fan, but I've been listening to this album a lot since I got to NY. These guys don't change the formula that often, so it feels new, but it feels like home.
02. TV On The Radio - Hours (El-P Remix)
I put this track on here mainly because I dig El-P's work. TVOTR tends to squeeze their songs somewhere between twitchy and celebratory. El-P's production tends to fit between paranoid and terrifying. I feel like TVOTR could use a good dose of paranoia every now and then.
03. Sims - Like You Mean It
Every time I see Sims live he's better than the last time. They were selling his new False Hopes EP on the Never Better Tour. It features a couple tracks that are going to be on his new full length The Veldt. Remarkably, this track didn't make the cut. What makes the motherfucker so damn fresh?
04. Art Brut - The Replacements
I've been on an Art Brut kick since they announced they were going to have a five night residency at the Mercury Lounge the first week of June. Sarah and I have tickets for the Friday night show. Should be a good time. Funny how every indie kid in the Midwest knows who The Replacements are by the time they're 12 years old, but poor Eddie Argos didn't find out until his late 20's. Tough break.
05. Abstract Rude - Rejuvenation
Rhymesayers.com leaked this track a couple weeks ago. It's the first track from Rude's new album Rejuvenation. I only know two Abstract Rude tracks, this one and the one he leaked back on election day (The Government (November 4th Mix)). After hearing both of these songs, I'm fully prepared to buy and love Rejuvenation when it is released.
06. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
I've been aware of this album for years. It always turns up on those indie rock/90's "best of" lists, but I hadn't really listened to it until just this month. Not to knock it (I think it's a fine album), but if it had come out in this climate of pitchfork/bittorrent/nextbigthing, I think it would have garnered a 7.5 and been forgotten in 6 month's time.
Also, now I know where Colin Meloy got every idea he ever had ever.
07. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Indiana
Speaking of that Pitchfork culture, I downloaded this album after it got a "best new music" recommendation. I know, I'm part of the problem. Anyway, the album is a sprawling, enjoyable, fuzzed out mess. Every so often, these little pop gems burst through the hissing and wheezing. Not the most original template, but good times.
08. Stereolab - People Do It All The Time
I realize this song is ten years old, but it's probably my favorite Stereolab song. I like when they try to wrap pop hooks around their dancy/baroque/glitchy... you know what I mean. Just a couple days after I broke this album out the group announced they were taking an indefinite hiatus. Beat.
09. Jaydiohead - No Karma
Minty Fresh Beats dropped this Jaydiohead album a couple of months ago. Obviously, mashing up Jay-Z and anybody is an old trick. Especially Radiohead, since Girl Talk mashed up "Roc Boys" and "Paranoid Android' last year. However, I like the beat Minty Fresh construct from "Karma Police" and I like Hova claiming "I don't need no hook for this shiiiit" over what is probably the best known hook in the Radiohead catalog.
10. Deer Tick - These Old Shoes
I saw Deer Tick about a month ago at The Bowery. They're out of Rhode Island and proud of it. Their album wears a little thin, but this one stands out.
11. Felt - 20 Answers
Murs. Slug. Ant. The joke's on you, jack!
12. The Hold Steady - Yeah Sapphire
I've been really into websites trying to break down The Hold Steady's narrative over the last month. This song is a big part of tying together the parts of the story told on Stay Positive. Plus, the idea of relocating to St. Paul because the city you're in is too small cracks me up. Big up, StP.
13. Frank Black - Go Find Your Saint
This track's off Honeycomb, the album Frank recorded in Nashville with a bunch of session players. It's a lovely little record. It's not exactly alt-country, but not exactly pop. Just like pretty much everything Frank Black does, it's difficult to classify but thoroughly enjoyable.
14. The White Stripes - Little Room
Hard to believe that that little room once contained just Jack and Meg. Now the room contains Jack, Meg, Holly Golightly, a couple of Greenhornes, Brendan Benson, that girl from The Kills, Regulo Aldama, a supermodel wife, Conan O'Brien, and the city of Nashville. The amount of self-awareness possessed by Jack White circa 2001 is scary.
15. Mobius Band - Say You Will
I know I've been on a Kanye West kick for a while now, but I thought it was amazing how quickly songs from 808s started being covered by indie bands. Remember when everyone was covering "Hey Ya!?" And then how quickly everyone started covering "Crazy?" Well, here we have a whole album built for indie rock covers. Kanye West: The gift that keeps on giving.
16. Jeff Buckley - Your Flesh Is So Nice
Honestly, the weight that has been posthumously assigned to Grace makes that album almost unlistenable. For that same reason, Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk is so much fun. It reminds us quite bluntly how mortal Jeff Buckley was. It's nearly impossible to attach any meaning to this fuzzed-up mess. It's just power chords and Jeff Buckely trying to get some play. Just stupid fun.
17. Mos Def - Sunshine
I put this one on here because it's the start of spring. I know my friends back in MN are getting snowed on right now, but that sunshine's coming.
Speaking of Kanye West, he brings out the best in Mos Def on this track (whereas Mos brought out the worst in Kanye on "Drunk And Hot Girls"). At least 85% of the tracks Mos Def puts out are a total waste of time, which is why songs like this are so frustrating. Just try a little harder, man. Trust me, you could have passed on The Italian Job.
Flatbasset - April '09
As always, click the link, put in the number/letter combo that proves you're living, click download now and there you are.
Flatbasset - April '09 Track List (click the track name to download)
01. Dillinger Four - A Jingle For The Product
The first track of the new Dillinger Four album C I V I L W A R. I've never been the biggest D4 fan, but I've been listening to this album a lot since I got to NY. These guys don't change the formula that often, so it feels new, but it feels like home.
02. TV On The Radio - Hours (El-P Remix)
I put this track on here mainly because I dig El-P's work. TVOTR tends to squeeze their songs somewhere between twitchy and celebratory. El-P's production tends to fit between paranoid and terrifying. I feel like TVOTR could use a good dose of paranoia every now and then.
03. Sims - Like You Mean It
Every time I see Sims live he's better than the last time. They were selling his new False Hopes EP on the Never Better Tour. It features a couple tracks that are going to be on his new full length The Veldt. Remarkably, this track didn't make the cut. What makes the motherfucker so damn fresh?
04. Art Brut - The Replacements
I've been on an Art Brut kick since they announced they were going to have a five night residency at the Mercury Lounge the first week of June. Sarah and I have tickets for the Friday night show. Should be a good time. Funny how every indie kid in the Midwest knows who The Replacements are by the time they're 12 years old, but poor Eddie Argos didn't find out until his late 20's. Tough break.
05. Abstract Rude - Rejuvenation
Rhymesayers.com leaked this track a couple weeks ago. It's the first track from Rude's new album Rejuvenation. I only know two Abstract Rude tracks, this one and the one he leaked back on election day (The Government (November 4th Mix)). After hearing both of these songs, I'm fully prepared to buy and love Rejuvenation when it is released.
06. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
I've been aware of this album for years. It always turns up on those indie rock/90's "best of" lists, but I hadn't really listened to it until just this month. Not to knock it (I think it's a fine album), but if it had come out in this climate of pitchfork/bittorrent/nextbigthing, I think it would have garnered a 7.5 and been forgotten in 6 month's time.
Also, now I know where Colin Meloy got every idea he ever had ever.
07. Cymbals Eat Guitars - Indiana
Speaking of that Pitchfork culture, I downloaded this album after it got a "best new music" recommendation. I know, I'm part of the problem. Anyway, the album is a sprawling, enjoyable, fuzzed out mess. Every so often, these little pop gems burst through the hissing and wheezing. Not the most original template, but good times.
08. Stereolab - People Do It All The Time
I realize this song is ten years old, but it's probably my favorite Stereolab song. I like when they try to wrap pop hooks around their dancy/baroque/glitchy... you know what I mean. Just a couple days after I broke this album out the group announced they were taking an indefinite hiatus. Beat.
09. Jaydiohead - No Karma
Minty Fresh Beats dropped this Jaydiohead album a couple of months ago. Obviously, mashing up Jay-Z and anybody is an old trick. Especially Radiohead, since Girl Talk mashed up "Roc Boys" and "Paranoid Android' last year. However, I like the beat Minty Fresh construct from "Karma Police" and I like Hova claiming "I don't need no hook for this shiiiit" over what is probably the best known hook in the Radiohead catalog.
10. Deer Tick - These Old Shoes
I saw Deer Tick about a month ago at The Bowery. They're out of Rhode Island and proud of it. Their album wears a little thin, but this one stands out.
11. Felt - 20 Answers
Murs. Slug. Ant. The joke's on you, jack!
12. The Hold Steady - Yeah Sapphire
I've been really into websites trying to break down The Hold Steady's narrative over the last month. This song is a big part of tying together the parts of the story told on Stay Positive. Plus, the idea of relocating to St. Paul because the city you're in is too small cracks me up. Big up, StP.
13. Frank Black - Go Find Your Saint
This track's off Honeycomb, the album Frank recorded in Nashville with a bunch of session players. It's a lovely little record. It's not exactly alt-country, but not exactly pop. Just like pretty much everything Frank Black does, it's difficult to classify but thoroughly enjoyable.
14. The White Stripes - Little Room
Hard to believe that that little room once contained just Jack and Meg. Now the room contains Jack, Meg, Holly Golightly, a couple of Greenhornes, Brendan Benson, that girl from The Kills, Regulo Aldama, a supermodel wife, Conan O'Brien, and the city of Nashville. The amount of self-awareness possessed by Jack White circa 2001 is scary.
15. Mobius Band - Say You Will
I know I've been on a Kanye West kick for a while now, but I thought it was amazing how quickly songs from 808s started being covered by indie bands. Remember when everyone was covering "Hey Ya!?" And then how quickly everyone started covering "Crazy?" Well, here we have a whole album built for indie rock covers. Kanye West: The gift that keeps on giving.
16. Jeff Buckley - Your Flesh Is So Nice
Honestly, the weight that has been posthumously assigned to Grace makes that album almost unlistenable. For that same reason, Sketches For My Sweetheart The Drunk is so much fun. It reminds us quite bluntly how mortal Jeff Buckley was. It's nearly impossible to attach any meaning to this fuzzed-up mess. It's just power chords and Jeff Buckely trying to get some play. Just stupid fun.
17. Mos Def - Sunshine
I put this one on here because it's the start of spring. I know my friends back in MN are getting snowed on right now, but that sunshine's coming.
Speaking of Kanye West, he brings out the best in Mos Def on this track (whereas Mos brought out the worst in Kanye on "Drunk And Hot Girls"). At least 85% of the tracks Mos Def puts out are a total waste of time, which is why songs like this are so frustrating. Just try a little harder, man. Trust me, you could have passed on The Italian Job.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Traffic Lights And Sloppy Left Turns...
I'm sure most of you know my brother Will. If you don't, he's my brother and he's like a funnier, more talented, better looking, less obscene version of myself. Seriously. Check out HIS blog if you don't believe me.
I got an e-mail from him today. Turns out he put some of that talent to use and wrote, recorded, and released a two song digital EP called "High Times At Blue Moon."
Now, I know a lot of the labels he's been talking to were like, "No, don't give it away for free! These songs are gold! Let us give them a proper release and we'll all be rich!" But Will was like, "Ya industry's dying, son. Ya business model's flawed and I'm not about climbing aboard sinking ships. I saw TLC's Behind The Music. They sold 10 million records! Now they're broke and Left Eye's dead! No dice. The people want the songs, the people get the songs. I'm out. Peace."
So hear they are. I highly suggest that you download them, put them on your iPod, scrobble them, put them on mixtapes and give them to girls you like, impress your indie/hipster/fuckstick friends by playing something they haven't heard of yet, post up on the block and blow out the subs in your Escalade... You know, whatever you do.
Tiny Little Town
Minnesota Winter
As always, just click the link, type in the letter/numer combo on the right, wait 45 seconds, click "regular download," open and enjoy!
I got an e-mail from him today. Turns out he put some of that talent to use and wrote, recorded, and released a two song digital EP called "High Times At Blue Moon."
Now, I know a lot of the labels he's been talking to were like, "No, don't give it away for free! These songs are gold! Let us give them a proper release and we'll all be rich!" But Will was like, "Ya industry's dying, son. Ya business model's flawed and I'm not about climbing aboard sinking ships. I saw TLC's Behind The Music. They sold 10 million records! Now they're broke and Left Eye's dead! No dice. The people want the songs, the people get the songs. I'm out. Peace."
So hear they are. I highly suggest that you download them, put them on your iPod, scrobble them, put them on mixtapes and give them to girls you like, impress your indie/hipster/fuckstick friends by playing something they haven't heard of yet, post up on the block and blow out the subs in your Escalade... You know, whatever you do.
Tiny Little Town
Minnesota Winter
As always, just click the link, type in the letter/numer combo on the right, wait 45 seconds, click "regular download," open and enjoy!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Homey, This Shit Is Basic...
In honor of Kanye West's "Storytellers" premiering on VH1, I thought I'd put together a list of Kanye's top 10 songs.
It should be noted that this list is not a matter of personal opinion, but rather scientific fact. Research was conducted by myself, Margo Basset, Lil' Squawk Box, Sarah, Pheezy, Emily Love, a Ford Taurus, a Ford Focus, the Target Center, and the Herkimer jukebox.
This list is based solely on Kanye West's four proper albums (The College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, and 808's & Heartbreak). It does not contain any material off mixtapes, nor does it contain any collaborations off other people's albums (sorry, Swagger Like Us).
Click the track title to download the song.
First, 5 tracks that just missed the cut:
15. Barry Bonds (w/Lil' Wayne) (Graduation)
14. Celebration (Late Registration)
13. All Falls Down (The College Dropout)
12. Say You Will (808's & Heartbreak)
11. Jesus Walks (The College Dropout)
Top 10:
10. We Don't Care (The College Dropout)
The first track off The College Dropout serves as the perfect intro to what Kanye West is all about. It paints a picture of the world Kanye's trying to get away from, it's funny, it remarks on dropping out of college, plus, it's a mission statement: "Stack ya money 'til it gets sky high." It's Kanye (circa 2004) in his own words. Plus, it's the perfect song for the kiiidz.
Key line: "We never had nothin' handed/Took nothin' for granted/Took nothin' from no man/Man, I'm my own man."
09. Amazing (w/Young Jeezy) (808's & Heartbreak)
808's & Heartbreak is a tough album to place. At this point in his career, Kanye has started at the bottom and climbed to the top of the mountain with Graduation. How does he follow it up? With a auto-tune drenched, emo album. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's genius, but admittedly, a bit of a curveball.
"Amazing" is the first instance on the album of the old, ego-maniacal Kanye turning up. I mean, the song opens with the line, "It's amazing/I'm the reason/everybody's fired up this evening." It's also the first instance of overt hip-hop, with Jeezy turning up to throw in a few "Yeah" 's and a verse that includes the line, "I'm at the podium/I'm trying to watch my sodium" Yeah, Jeezy, let's get it! Unless "it" has MSG.
Key Line: "No matter what you'll never take that from me/My reign is as far as your eyes can see/It's amazing"
08. Flashing Lights (Graduation)
One of the main components of the Graduation album was Kanye's use of keyboards to construct his beats. Nowhere is that more evident than on "Flashing Lights." The bouncing keyboards and reverb-drenched chorus make for a great pop hook.
Lyrically, the track takes aim at Kanye's longtime nemesis, the paparazzi (Damn, these niggas got me/I hate these niggas more than a nazi). It also provides a portrait of the complications that arise from dating Kanye West (You more like love to start shit/I'm more of the trips to Florida) which, in hindsight, makes it an interesting preface to the whole 808's & Heartbreak album.
Also, he made three equally inexplicable videos for the song.
On a personal note, this song has some great memories attached to it. Pheezy, drop those keyboards!
Key line: "And the weather's so breezy/Man, why can't life always be this easy?"
07. Never Let Me Down (w/Jay-Z) (The College Dropout)
Before Kanye's relationship with Jay-Z deteriorated into some kind of crazy inferiority complex, they put together this standout off The College Dropout. Oddly, Young Hov gets two verses on the track, sandwiched around Kanye's. While this no doubt contributed to the complex, the fact that Jay uses the first verse to boast (When you're hot, I'm hot/And when you're feet are cold, mine is sizzlin') forces Kanye to take a more reflective approach with his verse (Niggas can't make it to ballots to choose leadership/But we can make it to Jacob's or to the dealership). This, of course, plays to Kanye's strengths and makes this one of the best collaborations on any Kanye album.
Key line: "I get down for my grandfather who took my mama/And made her sit in that seat where white folks ain't want us to eat/At the tender age of 6 she was arrested for the sit-ins/And with that in my blood I was born to be different"
Honorable Mention: "I know they don't want me in the damn club/They even made me show ID to get inside of Sam's Club"
06. Good Morning (Graduation)
Whether it's a remarkable amount of self-awareness or just another example of his unstoppable ego, "Good Morning" is clearly made the opener of Kanye's third album with the intention of proclaiming Kanye's greatness compared to, um, every other rapper ever. The track opens with a very sparse beat and a couple of "Uh" 's from Kaney before the keyboards kick in.
Kanye spends the first couple of verses bringing us up to speed (From the streets to the league/From an eigth to a key/But you graduate when you make it up outta the streets). Then, in one of the more brazen moves in pop music, he ends the third verse with the line, "After all of that you receive this..." and then he samples Jay-Z's opening lines from "The Ruler's Back" off The Blueprint.
I could probably throw out about 500 words on this, so I'll try to be brief. This is so remarkable because it is basically Kanye proclaiming he does not play second fiddle to anybody. Jay-Z, at the time, was pretty much considered the best MC alive. To sample his voice, after spending three verses claiming you've got the credentials to do so, is pretty goddamn ballsy. Also, the ties to The Blueprint are pretty clear. It's basically the record that pushed Jay-Z over the top and into the mainstream. It is also an album produced mainly by a young and hungry Kanye West. At the end of Graduation Kanye spends a whole song (Big Brother) explaining how complicated his relationship is with Jay-Z. Once you have the whole story, the fact that he sampled his voice to open the album is a proven to be a bold move.
Key Line: "Scared of the world/Complacent career student/Some people graduate but be still stupid"
05. RoboCop (808's & Heartbreak)
While most of the 808's album is spent inside Kanye's head, he lets his guard down and has some fun on two consecutive tracks in the middle of the album, Paranoid and RoboCop. RoboCop starts out with those sweet 808's and turns into a full on pop song. Kanye is getting on a "spoiled little L.A. girl's" case for trying to keep tabs on him, wagging his finger and claiming, "I don't need no RoboCop/When did you become a RoboCop?" He even manages to sound like Morrissey, lauging mockingly, "You're kidding me?/Haha, that was a good one/You're first good one in a while."
Key Line: "'Bout the baddest girl I ever seen/Straight up out a movie screen/Who knew she was a drama queen/That would turn my life to Stephen King's?"
04. Homecoming (w/Chris Martin) (Graduation)
Alright, obviously, I'm a Kanye West fan. I'm also a Coldplay fan. No, I'm not a 16 year old girl, but thanks for asking. I'm also a fan of just about any song where people big up there hometown. Kanye has obviously never shied away from mentioning Chicago, but this is his first song that is overtly about his city. Oddly, in the first verse, he addresses Chicago as a woman who showed him the ropes (I met this girl when I was three years old/And what I learned first she had so much soul). However, he spends the second verse just being straight with it, passionately ranting directly to and about his hometown. Honestly, that second verse is probably my favorite verse in the Kanye catalog.
Of course, wrapping up the whole package is Chris Martin's piano-banging beat. He delivers a ridiculously catchy chorus, which is the exact opposite of the bizzarely ambient "Beach Chair" off Jay-Z's Kingdom Come record. He actually has my favorite line in the song, "Baby, do you remember when/Fireworks at Lake Michigan?" Easily his best work since "The Scientist."
Key line: "Every interview I'm representin' you, making you proud/Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud/Jump in the crowd, spark your lighters, wave 'em around/If you don't know by now, I'm talkin' 'bout Chi-Town!"
03. Champion (Graduation)
When I started making this list, I had this song way back in the five that just missed the cut. As I started analyzing the, "Which song made me turn up the volume in my car when it came up on shuffle?" data, I found that "Champion" was one of my favorites. It's got a great, synthesizer-driven hook wrapped around a Lauryn Hill sample (cleverly referenced IN the song when Kanye says, "Lauryn Hill claimed her heart was in Zion/I wish her heart still was in rhymin.") and a couple of beautifully ego-driven verses from Kanye.
Does Kanye West realize he's a champion? What do you think he's going to say?
Key Line: "I don't see why I need a stylist/When I shop so much I can speak Italian"
02. Touch The Sky (w/Lupe Fiasco) (Late Registration)
As you can probably tell from the list, I'm not the biggest fan of Late Registration. It's just not solid all the way through, and it's got three stellar albums to compete with. That being said, "Touch The Sky" nearly topped my list. This is as close to a perfect hip-hop/pop single as I think I've ever heard. The fact that Kanye had to wait until "Stronger" to actually receive that validation still surprises me.
This track serves as Kanye celebrating the success of The College Dropout, obviously a well-deserved victory lap. Bringing Lupe Fiasco along for the ride and wrapping up the whole package in some Curtis Mayfield horns? Good choice.
Also, this shit was great on the Glow In The Dark tour. Bringing out Lupe to do the third verse live was pretty cool.
Key Line: "Before anybody wanted K. West beats/Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC/Dog, I was having nervous breakdowns/Like, "Damn, these niggas that much better than me?"
01. The Glory (Graduation)
And here we have it, number 1 on the list. "The Glory" is Kanye brining us up to speed with where the story's at so far (2007). What makes this song great is the fact that Kanye's position in the rap world circa 2007 feeds directly into what he's been telling us all along, that he's the best and he's going to be on top of the world. No wonder he freaked out after this record and put out 808's.
Kanye spends the whole track bragging about his shoes, his hat, being pop, being hood, the fact that the paparazzi is always on his ass, his propensity for talking lesbians into his tour van, the fact that it doesn't matter to him how much new homes cost, and how good he looks in real life (evidently, it's "better"). This is Kanye at the height of his commercial power & letting his ego do all the talking.
Plus, the beat is as close to "bangin'" as anything Kanye's ever put on one of his albums. Plus, it even has one of his old trademark sped-up soul samples, just to bring it all back home.
So, there you have it. The data is indisputable. If you need to see the raw numbers, I'll dig them out, but why would I lie to you? I'm outta here, baby.
It should be noted that this list is not a matter of personal opinion, but rather scientific fact. Research was conducted by myself, Margo Basset, Lil' Squawk Box, Sarah, Pheezy, Emily Love, a Ford Taurus, a Ford Focus, the Target Center, and the Herkimer jukebox.
This list is based solely on Kanye West's four proper albums (The College Dropout, Late Registration, Graduation, and 808's & Heartbreak). It does not contain any material off mixtapes, nor does it contain any collaborations off other people's albums (sorry, Swagger Like Us).
Click the track title to download the song.
First, 5 tracks that just missed the cut:
15. Barry Bonds (w/Lil' Wayne) (Graduation)
14. Celebration (Late Registration)
13. All Falls Down (The College Dropout)
12. Say You Will (808's & Heartbreak)
11. Jesus Walks (The College Dropout)
Top 10:
10. We Don't Care (The College Dropout)
The first track off The College Dropout serves as the perfect intro to what Kanye West is all about. It paints a picture of the world Kanye's trying to get away from, it's funny, it remarks on dropping out of college, plus, it's a mission statement: "Stack ya money 'til it gets sky high." It's Kanye (circa 2004) in his own words. Plus, it's the perfect song for the kiiidz.
Key line: "We never had nothin' handed/Took nothin' for granted/Took nothin' from no man/Man, I'm my own man."
09. Amazing (w/Young Jeezy) (808's & Heartbreak)
808's & Heartbreak is a tough album to place. At this point in his career, Kanye has started at the bottom and climbed to the top of the mountain with Graduation. How does he follow it up? With a auto-tune drenched, emo album. Don't get me wrong, I still think it's genius, but admittedly, a bit of a curveball.
"Amazing" is the first instance on the album of the old, ego-maniacal Kanye turning up. I mean, the song opens with the line, "It's amazing/I'm the reason/everybody's fired up this evening." It's also the first instance of overt hip-hop, with Jeezy turning up to throw in a few "Yeah" 's and a verse that includes the line, "I'm at the podium/I'm trying to watch my sodium" Yeah, Jeezy, let's get it! Unless "it" has MSG.
Key Line: "No matter what you'll never take that from me/My reign is as far as your eyes can see/It's amazing"
08. Flashing Lights (Graduation)
One of the main components of the Graduation album was Kanye's use of keyboards to construct his beats. Nowhere is that more evident than on "Flashing Lights." The bouncing keyboards and reverb-drenched chorus make for a great pop hook.
Lyrically, the track takes aim at Kanye's longtime nemesis, the paparazzi (Damn, these niggas got me/I hate these niggas more than a nazi). It also provides a portrait of the complications that arise from dating Kanye West (You more like love to start shit/I'm more of the trips to Florida) which, in hindsight, makes it an interesting preface to the whole 808's & Heartbreak album.
Also, he made three equally inexplicable videos for the song.
On a personal note, this song has some great memories attached to it. Pheezy, drop those keyboards!
Key line: "And the weather's so breezy/Man, why can't life always be this easy?"
07. Never Let Me Down (w/Jay-Z) (The College Dropout)
Before Kanye's relationship with Jay-Z deteriorated into some kind of crazy inferiority complex, they put together this standout off The College Dropout. Oddly, Young Hov gets two verses on the track, sandwiched around Kanye's. While this no doubt contributed to the complex, the fact that Jay uses the first verse to boast (When you're hot, I'm hot/And when you're feet are cold, mine is sizzlin') forces Kanye to take a more reflective approach with his verse (Niggas can't make it to ballots to choose leadership/But we can make it to Jacob's or to the dealership). This, of course, plays to Kanye's strengths and makes this one of the best collaborations on any Kanye album.
Key line: "I get down for my grandfather who took my mama/And made her sit in that seat where white folks ain't want us to eat/At the tender age of 6 she was arrested for the sit-ins/And with that in my blood I was born to be different"
Honorable Mention: "I know they don't want me in the damn club/They even made me show ID to get inside of Sam's Club"
06. Good Morning (Graduation)
Whether it's a remarkable amount of self-awareness or just another example of his unstoppable ego, "Good Morning" is clearly made the opener of Kanye's third album with the intention of proclaiming Kanye's greatness compared to, um, every other rapper ever. The track opens with a very sparse beat and a couple of "Uh" 's from Kaney before the keyboards kick in.
Kanye spends the first couple of verses bringing us up to speed (From the streets to the league/From an eigth to a key/But you graduate when you make it up outta the streets). Then, in one of the more brazen moves in pop music, he ends the third verse with the line, "After all of that you receive this..." and then he samples Jay-Z's opening lines from "The Ruler's Back" off The Blueprint.
I could probably throw out about 500 words on this, so I'll try to be brief. This is so remarkable because it is basically Kanye proclaiming he does not play second fiddle to anybody. Jay-Z, at the time, was pretty much considered the best MC alive. To sample his voice, after spending three verses claiming you've got the credentials to do so, is pretty goddamn ballsy. Also, the ties to The Blueprint are pretty clear. It's basically the record that pushed Jay-Z over the top and into the mainstream. It is also an album produced mainly by a young and hungry Kanye West. At the end of Graduation Kanye spends a whole song (Big Brother) explaining how complicated his relationship is with Jay-Z. Once you have the whole story, the fact that he sampled his voice to open the album is a proven to be a bold move.
Key Line: "Scared of the world/Complacent career student/Some people graduate but be still stupid"
05. RoboCop (808's & Heartbreak)
While most of the 808's album is spent inside Kanye's head, he lets his guard down and has some fun on two consecutive tracks in the middle of the album, Paranoid and RoboCop. RoboCop starts out with those sweet 808's and turns into a full on pop song. Kanye is getting on a "spoiled little L.A. girl's" case for trying to keep tabs on him, wagging his finger and claiming, "I don't need no RoboCop/When did you become a RoboCop?" He even manages to sound like Morrissey, lauging mockingly, "You're kidding me?/Haha, that was a good one/You're first good one in a while."
Key Line: "'Bout the baddest girl I ever seen/Straight up out a movie screen/Who knew she was a drama queen/That would turn my life to Stephen King's?"
04. Homecoming (w/Chris Martin) (Graduation)
Alright, obviously, I'm a Kanye West fan. I'm also a Coldplay fan. No, I'm not a 16 year old girl, but thanks for asking. I'm also a fan of just about any song where people big up there hometown. Kanye has obviously never shied away from mentioning Chicago, but this is his first song that is overtly about his city. Oddly, in the first verse, he addresses Chicago as a woman who showed him the ropes (I met this girl when I was three years old/And what I learned first she had so much soul). However, he spends the second verse just being straight with it, passionately ranting directly to and about his hometown. Honestly, that second verse is probably my favorite verse in the Kanye catalog.
Of course, wrapping up the whole package is Chris Martin's piano-banging beat. He delivers a ridiculously catchy chorus, which is the exact opposite of the bizzarely ambient "Beach Chair" off Jay-Z's Kingdom Come record. He actually has my favorite line in the song, "Baby, do you remember when/Fireworks at Lake Michigan?" Easily his best work since "The Scientist."
Key line: "Every interview I'm representin' you, making you proud/Reach for the stars so if you fall you land on a cloud/Jump in the crowd, spark your lighters, wave 'em around/If you don't know by now, I'm talkin' 'bout Chi-Town!"
03. Champion (Graduation)
When I started making this list, I had this song way back in the five that just missed the cut. As I started analyzing the, "Which song made me turn up the volume in my car when it came up on shuffle?" data, I found that "Champion" was one of my favorites. It's got a great, synthesizer-driven hook wrapped around a Lauryn Hill sample (cleverly referenced IN the song when Kanye says, "Lauryn Hill claimed her heart was in Zion/I wish her heart still was in rhymin.") and a couple of beautifully ego-driven verses from Kanye.
Does Kanye West realize he's a champion? What do you think he's going to say?
Key Line: "I don't see why I need a stylist/When I shop so much I can speak Italian"
02. Touch The Sky (w/Lupe Fiasco) (Late Registration)
As you can probably tell from the list, I'm not the biggest fan of Late Registration. It's just not solid all the way through, and it's got three stellar albums to compete with. That being said, "Touch The Sky" nearly topped my list. This is as close to a perfect hip-hop/pop single as I think I've ever heard. The fact that Kanye had to wait until "Stronger" to actually receive that validation still surprises me.
This track serves as Kanye celebrating the success of The College Dropout, obviously a well-deserved victory lap. Bringing Lupe Fiasco along for the ride and wrapping up the whole package in some Curtis Mayfield horns? Good choice.
Also, this shit was great on the Glow In The Dark tour. Bringing out Lupe to do the third verse live was pretty cool.
Key Line: "Before anybody wanted K. West beats/Me and my girl split the buffet at KFC/Dog, I was having nervous breakdowns/Like, "Damn, these niggas that much better than me?"
01. The Glory (Graduation)
And here we have it, number 1 on the list. "The Glory" is Kanye brining us up to speed with where the story's at so far (2007). What makes this song great is the fact that Kanye's position in the rap world circa 2007 feeds directly into what he's been telling us all along, that he's the best and he's going to be on top of the world. No wonder he freaked out after this record and put out 808's.
Kanye spends the whole track bragging about his shoes, his hat, being pop, being hood, the fact that the paparazzi is always on his ass, his propensity for talking lesbians into his tour van, the fact that it doesn't matter to him how much new homes cost, and how good he looks in real life (evidently, it's "better"). This is Kanye at the height of his commercial power & letting his ego do all the talking.
Plus, the beat is as close to "bangin'" as anything Kanye's ever put on one of his albums. Plus, it even has one of his old trademark sped-up soul samples, just to bring it all back home.
So, there you have it. The data is indisputable. If you need to see the raw numbers, I'll dig them out, but why would I lie to you? I'm outta here, baby.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
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