Summertime north of L-B-C!

Just another Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Tonight I just happen to be at the El Rey. Sold Out show. All ages. Damn, a lot of teenagers arehere.

Who's playing? Who's playing?

Oh yeah! The Klaxons.

Good show. A lot more moshing and pushing than I expected. A whole lot. Somehow I have been pushed, shoved, and danced to the front of the stage, elbows and watch deep into the Cobrasnake's back, keeping him from Cory Kennedy, three people behind us, having no luck with moving forward.

The Klaxons are pretty entertaining. Actually the most fun I have had at a General Admission, Standing Room Only show with no encores, in a long time. Nothing too much to be completely bewildered about-. Except towards the end.

Being lodged into the Cobrasnake's back came to an end eventually, leading me instead to spend the rest of the show lodged into the backs of two girls who were a)shorter than me [I'm 5'2"] and b) I swear no older than 14. They were accompanied by a much taller couple sharing their singing along, swaying to the music glee. And then, out of nowhere, near the start of It's Not Over Yet, the girls in front of me [couple girl included] decided to throw up the Roc! Yes, the ROC! I don't know what the hell that was all about.

Wrong show ladies.

Wrong show.

See also:

Teresa Electro: neu raver kids suck

Never can say goodbye.

Apparently there was a memorial service held for the "N" word. Somehow me, nor my friends or family members, were invited.

DEUS EX MALCONTENT: Nothin' but an "N" Thang

Nobody wants to see us together...

...but it don't matter no!



Part of me wants to applaud Mo'Nique. The other half wants her to shut the hell up. Is that weird?

VH1 CELEBREALITY BLOG: Charm to Share: Behind the Scenes of the Charm School Reunion

[I be saying] NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

While you be saying YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!



Spotted at

Crunk + Disorderly.

W.T.F.?

Fuck you, pay [to see] me!

Shortly following the release of Tyrannosaurus Hives I got the boys in the band at the Henry Fonda, and it was, hands down, one of the most exciting and entertaining concerts I have ever been to in my short 23 year old life. That was late 2004 or sometime in 2005. And then they dissapeared. And then they reappeared on a Timbaland track I don't even play when I listen to the album. [Nowadays I check out after Fantasy or Board Meeting]

But whaddaya know? My boys are back! And they are hitting the Staples Center here in Los Angeles come November! With Maroon 5! Wait? What? Maroon 5? What the fuck?

PITCHFORK: Hives Stuck Touring North America With Maroon 5

A Moment of Clarity

Put the needle on it? I think not!

I have a confession to make. I sorta, kinda like Hilary Duff. There I said it. I don't own any of her albums, but I'm gonna go ahead and let it be known that I am fan of most of her singles. [Yes that includes So Yesterday, Come Clean, and that somewhat trie song about partying in Tokyo or Hollywood and Vine] I don't mind taking in a minute or two of a Lizzie Mcquire episode, and there are four tracks off of her latest album Dignity that are straight up poptastic. [Someone's been listening to Kylie Minogue. More on that later] So this is why I am worried about this Hannah Montana chick. She may only be 12? 14? 8? I don't know, but next thing you know, it'll be 2012, and she'll be dropping some infectious pop ditty, trying to get out of her Disney contract and spicing up her image. And who'll be at the other end of it all trying his hardest not to enjoy said single? This guy. This is why Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter must be stopped. Now! And while we're at it, somebody do what they can to stop the kids of High School Musical. Pronto.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: A Cinderella story for Disney Music Group

Also...

Even if you aren't a fan of Hilary Duff, you gotta admit, this Kylie Minogue aping track ain't too shabby. Right?

We're flossy, flossy!

File Under: Quote of the Day!


A good friend from college, back home in New York City wonders how life is in Los Angeles:

"What up? How's the glamorous life in LA? Alec [a good friend from Bowdoin who made the jump from Connecticut to LA following graduation] says every woman there is trying to look like Fergie."

-Sigh- You don't even know homie. You don't EVEN know.

Curtis.

The saga continues.

File Under: Parents Just Don't Understand


Bullet Proof?...I wish I was...

"So representatives from Interscope just hit me up and asked me to remove the Curtis and Justin joint. The request by itself isn’t out of the ordinary, especially when album cuts leak prior to the official release date, or when singles hit the streets before that magical day that the labels decide the public is ready to hear them. So it’s no big deal, and I have no problem removing the song, but let’s talk about how stupid a move this is for a minute...It’s the golden rule. People hear music, then they like music, then they buy music. It’s the only order it can happen in. If you try to do it in any other sequence, it just won’t work..."

NAH RIGHT: BREAKING: Curtis Shot in Foot

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers !

File Under: Big Ups Beck Hansen!

Happy 37th Birthday to my favorite scientologist.

The one, the only, Beck Hansen.

A Moment of Clarity

Yo Diddy. I got a bone to pick with you. Okay so looka here. You are currently at the outset of finding yourself a new O-Town, Dream, or Da Band [-Sigh- Da Band. Oh how I miss thee. Now that was good television], and I can't help but feel sorry for those poor lads lining up to join your new all male supergroup. They'll get a sweet pad, an opening spot on the Scream Tour, [or opening for TGT] and a hot producer of the moment to produce that hot debut single that'll get it's own episode of Making the Video, and aid in moving some units. And then that'll be it. And that's a goddamn shame.

I say this cause as of late I have been finding myself returning to Danity Kane's self-titled debut album quite often. Now I know a lot of people like to harp on the ladies of DK [particularly Aubrey for some reason], but if you take the time to listen without prejudice, you'll find that their debut LP is quite refreshing; a sweet slice of harmony driven R&B.

Now like those before you, I had no reason to go out and get this album, no matter how much I enjoyed lead single Showstopper. [thanks in part to a late night MTV Making the Video viewing]And then I started to read positive reviews and decided to give it a shot. [ and by give it a shot I mean hit up a torrent site]Yes I am that easy sometimes. Why do you think FallOut Boy's latest is one of my favorite albums of the year? Read an A- minus review of it over at

Stylus Magazine

and got my download on. [Don't fret RIAA I then went out and bought it.]

But I digress...

What I came to encounter is a disc that succeeds in letting five unknown talents shine, tackling the tried and true arenas of contemporary R&B: love gone, love lost, love seeked, and jealous ass females who can't stand a girl in love.

But then again I am a closet female R&B boy at heart; I grew up loving my Monica's, SWV's, and Aaliyah's. So maybe I am a little biased. But the ladies of Danity Kane got it right [I dare you to skip a track starting with One Shot right up to Ooh Aah. The sequencing is magnificent] and that is why I don't see why Diddy ain't out there getting them a little more exposure and publicity that this disc just craves? This ain't nothing revolutionary, yes I know, but I feel these girls might deserve a little better. Dream anyone?

Ooh and best of luck fellas. Diddy's pulling for ya!

And here's a taste of one of my jam's from Danity Kane:

News Blurb of the Day!

68. July 1, 1979
The Walkman goes on sale
When your kids ask you what those clunky plastic boxes were, you can say: “0GB iPods.”

Taken from:

BLENDER: 100 Days That Changed Music: 75-51

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

What? Don't look at me like that. Like I'm the only person here who owns a well worn copy of Yourself or Someone Like You.

Don't stop! Get it! Get it!

50 tries to bring it for the clubs in an old school, late 90's LL Cool J kind of way. Is it enough to make you care about his upcoming album Curtis? Do you love Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, but wish their contributions to the song were shorter than they actually are?

Only time will tell...

50 Cent feat. Justin Timberlake - She Wants It

Just bust a move!

File Under: Video of the Night!

A Moment of Clarity

Nobody puts baby in the corner.

"...That makes iTunes one of the most important music stores left open, just behind Best Buy and Wal-Mart. And here's the thing about iTunes: it doesn't need to exist. Anyone computer-savvy enough to buy music from iTunes could just as easily download that same music from any number of illegal services, and yet we still buy this shit out of some misguided loyalty or because we're afraid of accidentally downloading a ton of viruses. Anything that makes it harder for us to buy shit from iTunes is just that much more likely to send us to download this shit for free instead..."

STATUS AIN'T HOOD: Universal Records Fucks Up Bad

MINNEAPOLIS!*

*Kudos to all the folks who know what song this shout is from.


PRINCE: Don't you wanna come?
TAUWAN: Prince, you don't even know

Prince held it down here in Los Angeles recently for about seven nights at the Roosevelt Hotel. Did I go? Hell no. Dropping $3000 for an intimate Prince show? Shit. You think I got it like that? I almost caved in and bought a $300 dollar standing room only ticket, but by that point the last three nights were sold out. Too bad I don't live in Minneapolis. They get an aftershow this Saturday and it only costs, get this, $31 and 21 cents!@#* AND to make it fair you only get one ticket per purchase AND the show is 18 and over. DAMN. Now why couldn't you have played some Targets and cheap shows here in Los Angeles Prince? Huh? Answer me! ANSWER ME!

3121: Return 2 First Avenue: PRINCE LIVE

Afternoon Delight!

Thank you for being a friend!

Big ups to Maggie Fitzgerald for reminding me of how deep one's love for a friend can truly go by sending me this e-card:



Yes we will Maggie, yes we will...

Oh and before I forget to mention it, I wanna send a Happy Belated Birthday to the one they call Lindsay Lohan who celebrated her 21st birthday yesterday.

Hoe. Sit. Down.

Riding in the car with my cousin last week. Apparently I just had to hear this song, played as loudly as possible as we ran out to Bruno's to get some pastrami sandwiches. I couldn't help but think of the song's instructions when I read this article's headline.


"When that got out [about her and Ne-Yo supposedly getting it on], I actually panicked. I was nervous. Because I didn't want him to think that I did that [You know, kiss and tell]. That's not my style."

Bitch please.

VH1: Ne-Yo And Lil Wayne, Look Out — Video Vixen Karrine Steffans Ready To Kiss And Tell Again

Brand New Jones.

I would offer up some commentary on this music video presented below, but I choose to let you all dive in and enjoy it without me ruining the sheer pop perfection for you. Zac Efron. Bet On It. High School Musical 2. You can thank me later.



Also...

I hate to be a dick, but for the time being, in my mind, Zac Efron is a singing version of

this guy,

[Warning: NSFW] who a friend of mine dated a summer or two back.

Big thangs poppin'!

File Under: A Moment of Clarity

Look I get it. I understand. People grow up. People grow up and make grown ass man or woman decisions. Nothing novel, nothing out of the ordinary. But damn it, what is up my brothers and sisters who helped make my childhood worth living here in this black surburban area of ours? We are now all in our 20's or at least we are getting there. The oldest one of us will be 25 this October. He is doing big things now. Got a job job. Got his qwn place. On his second car. Living the life. Oh and his girlfriend of nearly seven months [more like two if you count the random daliances that occured before they started applying labels like boyfriend and girlfriend] is pregnant. That's right pregnant. And he is so excited, and hoping that she decides to keep it. He's 24.

Now I know what you are thinking. This is nothing new. Young people get pregnant. But damn. He wants this baby. Go down the street to the left and another one of our friends from growing up [who is my age] already has a little girl. Cross the street and our boy who is a year older than me has a little boy. His little brother who is a year or two younger than me also has a baby on the way. Oh and did I mention that my little sister is ready pop sometime before the end of summer/start of fall. Seriously. What the fuck? what is up my brothers and sisters who helped make my childhood worth living here in this black surburban area of ours?

I know one thing though. Y'all can all joke about how I'm next and this and that, but that is simply not the case. I wish I would go out and go half on a baby. You must have gone and lost your cotton picking mind.

Oh and congratulations to all who are taking the plunge and doing the damn thing. Bringing a child into the world ain't an easy thing to do, but if you're ready and fully committed to raising a child like a good parent should, then I can't hate. Big ups and I guess keep it poppin.

[I be saying] NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

While you be saying YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!


I'm about to get paid y'all. PAID!

I can barely, repeat BARELY tolerate brief moments of product placement in music videos. But you know what I will not let myself tolerate at all? Product placement embedded into song lyrics. Not jingles, songs! You hear me Fergie? Huh? That shit ain't cute:

"Pop star Fergie has signed a $4 million (£2 million) deal to promote U.S.clothing firm Candie's in song. The Black Eyed Peas singer will write and perform songs about Candie's, which are expected to appear on her second solo album."

Aww hell to the naw.

FEMALE FIRST: Fergie Paid To Sing About Candies.

Dats what I'm talking about!

Ciara. 50 Cent. Easy. Breezy. Beautiful. Can't Leave Em Alone.



Now coast...

Also...

You think 50 Cent would take offense with me calling him the Velvet Teddybear after viewing this video? It's endearing right?

Oh Word?

"Music is boring right now. I'm too innovative for the world...I've been doing it so long, I'm about to throw in the towel. I'm about to de-crown myself and pass it over to one of the up-and-coming producers under me. They won't be able to be me - there's only one Timbaland..."

You sure about that son? Cause you looking mad comfortable in that pic.

NME: Timbaland to quit music?

I Wanna Sex You UP!

Here's the new video from Jenny Lewis and the boys in the band, collectively known as Rilo Kiley, titled The Moneymaker. Scan ahead to 9 minutes and ten seconds for all the bootylicious money shots. [A.K.A. the music video]

Rilo Kiley - The Moneymaker

Great song. Hot video. Welcome back.

Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

PART TWO.

And now, the list you all have been waiting for. My picks for the ten best albums of 2007 [Released between January and July 1, 2007 in America of course] Now I could write extensively about each album, but one, I'm no writer, just an overzealous music fan with a computer and a high speed internet connection. And two, I'm lazy, meaning that if I write too much, I'll get lazy come winter time and just present the same paragraphs again when I bust out my best of 2007 albums list in December. So without further adieu, here are my picks in no particular order.



ONE/LCD SOUNDSYSTEM/SOUND OF SILVER

The phrase fuck what ya heard gets tossed around a lot when it comes to discussing music, but when it comes to LCD Soundsytem and this banger of a sophomore record, you might wanna listen to what the people are saying, cause it's all correct. Trust me when I say yer favorite band's a sucker, and LCD Soundsystem is where it's at.

KEY TRACKS: Get Innnocuous!/All My Friends/Us V Them



TWO/OF MONTREAL/HISSING FAUNA, ARE YOU THE DESTROYER?


If you've noticed, 2007 has been all about the little bands that could breaking out into the spotlight, crafting music far more astonishing and fine tuned than that of their chart topping "veteran" counterparts. Of Montreal is one such act. You'll be hard pressed to find another avant-garde pop album that is damn near perfect from track one, right on down to the middle of the disc. Trust.

KEY TRACKS: Gronlandic Edit/A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger/Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider



THREE/NE-YO/BECAUSE OF YOU

Dear Ne-Yo,

Lately I have been craving me [and enjoying] some old school leaning, but forward looking R&B that talks to me and keeps it subtle, relishing in all that good singing, melodies, and songwriting has to offer. And it's all because of you and this stunner of a sophomore album.

Thanks,

Tauwan

KEY TRACKS: Because of You/Crazy/Can We Chill




FOUR/!!!/MYTH TAKES

Album #1: Spotty and all over the place. Album #2: Funky and cohesive urging you, no, forcing you to get up and get down. Nuff said.

KEY TRACKS: Must Be The Moon/Heart of Hearts/Sweet Life



FIVE/ARCADE FIRE/NEON BIBLE

Belive the hype and get over yourself cause this band will be around for a long time. If you claim to like good, thought provoking music, and are fond of excellent displays of musicmanship (boy that reads like Pitchfork lite)...well, I can stop writing cause you're already listening to this record.

KEY TRACKS: Keep the Car Running/Black Wave-Bad Vibrations/No Cars Go




SIX/AMY WINEHOUSE/BACK TO BLACK

I caught a late flight on the Amy Winehouse plane, but for me, her album came just in the nick of time. Reveling in the sound of girl group/motown/doo wop soul and drenched in heartache and sorrow, Back to Black keeps it real and sometimes that's all you want outta life.

KEY TRACKS: Rehab/Me and Mr. Jones/Tears Dry On Their Own



SEVEN/RIHANNA/GOOD GIRL GONE BAD

A.K.A. Good girl goes out and gets a personality. Yeah it can be argued that said personality is just a combination of swaggers possessed by pop maidens who came before her [and a few of her peers]. Whatever the case may be, this album, more than anything has made Rihanna an artist worth caring about beyond a few singles. Here's hoping she can keep up the good work and do it again.

KEY TRACKS: Push Up On Me/Don't Stop the Music/Lemme Get That



EIGHT/LIL WAYNE/DA DROUGHT 3

Yeah it's a mixtape. And yeah it's avaliable for free on the internet. But trust me, one listen of this, and you'll wish more rappers would toke a little herb and straight murder two discs worth of other people's tracks. One of the funniest, inspired, and passionate rap albums you'll hear all year. Real talk.

KEY TRACKS: We Takin' Over [RMX]/Get High Rule the World/Walk It Out



NINE/ARCTIC MONKEYS/FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE

Tight, concise, and to the point. Again, nuff said.

KEY TRACKS: Brianstorm/Flourescent Adolescent/505



TEN/THE WHITE STRIPES/ICKY THUMP

Nearly ten years in the game, and the White Stripes are still doing more with two people than most bands do with four members or more. Rustic, passionate, falling apart at the seams, this thump sure is icky, but like a car crash on the side of the road it's worth taking a look. Even if it slows you down for a bit.

KEY TRACKS: 300 M.P.H. Torrential Outpour Blues/Conquest/Rag and Bone

Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground

Today is Sunday July 1, 2007. Six months down. Six months to go. Time for a half year review! Up first, my pick for the ten of the best singles so far, of 2007 in no particular order.

one/justice/d.a.n.c.e.



two/patrick wolf/the magic position



three/lcd soundsystem/all my friends



four/rihanna/umbrella



five/ugk feat outkast/international player's anthem



six/avril lavigne/girlfriend



seven/bright eyes/four winds



eight/maroon 5/makes me wonder



nine/!!!/must be the moon



ten/lil mama/lip gloss

MACK 10 IS THE LICK* WESTSIDE IS THE CLICK!

CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THIS GANGSTA SHIT!

File Under: Video of the Night!

Lately I've been in a mid to late 90's West Coast hip-hop state of mind. That explains why this song popped into my head a couple minutes ago, causin me to bump it from my speakers. Enjoy and good night!



*49 year old cousin Angela,

[She of the NA boogie night]

uses this term all the damn time. We constantly ridicule her for it. "Ooh cuz, this outfit is the lick!" [She loves her outfits] But what's funny is, as of late, I have been hearing this term in songs and around the way. So sorry Angela. Guess you're more down than the rest of us youngins.

New flava (?) in ya ear!

Wow. I don't know what to say. Wait. Maybe I do. If Maroon 5 were a few years younger, and didn't play instruments, they would probably look and sound like this:



Ahhh! So this must be what High School Musical looks and sounds like.

THEKEVYKEVYKELVIN SOUL EXPERIENCE: NLT -That Girl Video

VHS or BETA

File Under: Old School Funk for the True Funk Soldiers!/Have you seen my childhood?


What's love got to do with it? Apparently a whole lot...


My mother, flawed as she may be, passed on something to me that I can't thank her enough for; and that is her love of music and grooving along to it. All types. I was reminded of this last week as we rode along in cousin Carl's car and coasted along to country music. And not that of the hip, listen to it for street cred variety. No. Carl had the radio tuned to some contemporary country music station of the moment and there she was, my mother, in the front seat shouting heeeeeyyyy, and snapping her fingers to the George Strait/Toby Keith/Brad Paisely/I don't know who song coming through the speakers.

Wait.

Alright.

Cut to today.

Watching So You Think You Can Dance?, skimming the latest L.A. Weekly, and enjoying some Budweiser. Look to my left. There it is. A 7'inch vinyl given to me by my mom a few years back to hold onto and enjoy. Motown. On one side I Want You Back by the Jackson 5. On the other side Who's Lovin' You, also by the Jackson 5. All I could think was why is this out of the box, and where is that box?

The Box? you might ask.

Let me explain.

Go back a couple years. Eigth Grade. Apartment off of Western and 74th or so, right before Florence. Me and the little sis returning home from school. It's the fall or early spring of my eigth grade year. Get to the apt. Doors locked. No one home. Walk a few blocks. Head to grandmother's house. Mom is gone. No one knows where she is. A few hours [or the next morning] later we all learn that she is a halfway home to combat her various addictions.

And so it began, my neverending stay in the grandma's house. [Thankfully it was interrupted by my admittance to Bowdoin College, half the world away in Brunswick, ME] And with this "squatting" came me and my sister's belongings, including my budding music collection. And boy did I have me a collection; Mostly cassettes, packaged in an Addidas box. It was this box that I just threw the Jackson five vinyl in, not giving it too much thought, or a care in the world. And it was this box that I decided to return to tonight. The contents of which I would like to share with all of you. Enjoy!

-An empty case labeled Destiny's Child. I am guessing the self-titled debut was in here. That was my shit for a little bit.
-Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream. Taped copy.
-Quindon's self-titled debut. The real thing. Not taped. Remember him. It's You That's on my Mind was my shit!



-Smashing Pumpkins. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Looks like I got it all on one cassette.
-Nirvana: MTV Unplugged in New York. Taped copy.
-Whitney Houston. My Love is Your Love. Taped copy. For some reason Vanessa Williams gets a few tracks on Side B after Whitney's album ends. I still don't know why and/or get that one.
-Ozomatli. Cumbia De Los Muerots and Super Bowl Sundae cassingle. As you'll see later, I loved me some singles back in the day. [Back when you actually went out and bought actual singles in record stores.] I'm thinking this one was free though for some reason. [haha]
-Supercop sdtrk. Bought copy. Yes the Jackie Chan movie. Guess I really loved that Warren G and Adina Howard track that sampled Tina Turner's What's Love Got to do With It?
-Radiohead. Ok Computer. Taped copy.
-Foo Fighters' self titled debut and The Colour and the Shape. One tape. Taped copy.
-Ooh this one is hillarious. Taped copy. Side A. Mariah Carey. Daydream. Side B: Muse. Showbiz. HA! Empty case. I think it destroyed itself.
-A recorded tape simply labeled DOC Music.
-Spice Girls single. No cover. Spice Up Your Life with the b-side Spice Invaders.
-Space Jam sdtrk. Bought copy.
-Prince. The Hits 1. Taped copy. Empty case.
-311. Taped copy. The debut. Side B ends with The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell. Something tells me that's not a 311 song.
-Looks like I just found that Mariah/Muse collabo. Moving on...
-Aaliyah. One in a Million. Taped copy. Empty case. Side B has a few bonus tracks: Johnny Blaze, Man Undercover, and Are You Somebody?
-Vanessa Williams is back, this time she's attached to the taped copy of Al Green's Greatest Hits. Again I don't understand or get this one.
-History: Past, Present, and Future. Michael Jackson. Both discs have their own taped copies.
-Marilyn Manson. Antichrist Superstar. Taped copy.
-Nirvana. Side A: Incesticide. Side B: In Utero. Taped copy.
-Ginuwine. Ginuwine...The Bachelor. Taped copy.
-The start of a Stevie Wonder Greatest Hits tape. [Got 5 tracks]
-3 cassingles [purchased]:
1)P!nk - there you go
2)R.Kelly - You Remind Me of Something. With the Lookin for My Homie Mix of Homie, Lover Friend on Side B.
3)Christina Aguilera - What A Girl Wants
-And finally a 60 minute taped copy of the Backstreet Boys' Black and Blue.

Good times.

Quote of the Day!

Shawwty can you buy me a drink?*

"I bartend at a club called the The Spot in Jackson, MS, where T-Pain was supposed to perform this past Saturday, June 23. People paid from $30 up to $100 to see T-Pain, and he did not show up, because a stretch limousine was sent to his hotel to chauffer him to the venue, instead of the four SUV's requested in his rider.

Mind you, I was not there for negotiation and do not know all the details of the contract, but I got this information straight from the promoters of the show, who announced to the crowd of about 2,000 that T-Pain was too ill to perform (instead of telling the truth and making T-Pain look like an asshole as I would have).

I understand business is business, but for someone who claims to have been begging for dollars outside of McDonald's a couple of years ago, that was a bitch move. T-Pain got paid tens of thousands of dollars to lay up in the Hilton for a night while his fans, who spent their hard earned money to see him, went home disappointed. T-Pain definitely owes Jackson, MS an explanation, or at least an apology. Better yet, a show." -- Ebony Mystique tells the folks over at

Crunk + Disorderly

Big ups for the quote and the info.

*Guess not.

Oh T-Pain. That shit ain't right.

P.S.:

Why is this song growing on me?

-Sigh -

I blame being in a predominantly black club accompained by a female Howard grad who was up on all the urban hits and dance grooves. Damn. You gotta understand me though, sometimes it's hard to be ignorant and pout when the beat is being blasted through a club, EVERYBODY is feeling it, and you got that henny in your system. Still can't get over that "we in the bed like ooh" part. Ugh.

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

WESTSIDE!

Crack open a nice ice cold bottle of St. Ides, kick up your feet, and enjoy this old school jam from one of my favorite cassettes from back in the day.

Screaming Infidelities.

It's no Unfaithful, but if you're in the mood for some Rihanna lite, well do I have the song for you!

Umbrella [Rihanna cover] - Scott Simons Music

New flava in ya ear!

Courtesy of the folks over at Stereogum.

Look I think we already know how much I love Junior Senior. And it's all thanks to their stunner of a sophomore album Hey Hey My My Yo Yo. [Don't believe me? Just type in Junior Senior, search the blog, and you'll catch my drift] Luckily for us, said album [which I have been bumping for nearly two years already. Jesus]is finally seeing the light of day on this side of the Atlantic. I had already planned on buying a physical copy, but the band just gave me even more of a reason to add it to my ever expanding CD library. Check it out:


"...the US has been deprived of an official release of second effort Hey Hey My My Yo Yo for the past two years, so added incentive to American Jr. Sr. fans comes by way of the seven track Say Hello Wave Goodbye EP, coming to LP purchasers as a limited edition bonus companion disc..."

Oh hell yes! First up for us is this new track presented at the link provided below, Headphone Song. Check it out! And remember "If the world seems grey ... if you have a bad day, put your headphones on / If your friends won't play, put your headphones on..."

STEREOGUM: New Junior Senior - "Headphone Song"

Best Rapper Alive?

File Under: Video of the Day!



Perhaps?

Money.

Double Money.



Thursday, June 28th, 9:47 AM

TXT MSGR 1: December 7th it's offcial! Are you going with?
TXT MSGR 2: What? I have no idea what you are talking about.

TXT MSGR 2 goes through his morning motions. [Brushing his teeth, making his bed, getting the coffee started.] Plomps in front of his computer after all is said and done, with a cup of joe, checks e-mails, scans a few blogs and finally gets what TXT MSGR 1 was talking about at 9:47 AM. Writes back:

TXT MSGR 1: Haha. The Spice Girls reunion December 7th LA Dec 8th Las Vegas. I'm going to try to go to both.
TXT MSGR 2: Seriously. I don't think you know how excited I am. Or maybe you do. The only thing that could make this better is if the LA show was on New Year's Eve.
TXT MSGR 1: I'm just glad they're coming to us first! They said they'll add more dates soon. I'm soo excited!! We should go to the one in LA together and then take a flight to vegas to catch the other. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!*

I don't know about all that...

BBC NEWS: Spice Girls announce reunion tour

*[bold print added for emotional emphasis]

Earlier...

Get Me Bodied**

**Okay so I neglected to mention in this piece that though I dragged my mentor to see the Spice Girls with me, he was repaid a few years later with a free Radiohead ticket to the Amnesiac tour at the Hollywood Bowl. Tickets I stayed up all night for with a hundred or so others, camping out at the Bowl til 10 a.m. Saturday morning when the box office opened and those wristbands passed out hours before got us first dibs on some good Radiohead seats. That was good times.

News Blurb of the Night!

"Victoria [Beckham. Posh Spice if you're nasty] designed a $500,000 closet for her new L.A. home. It supposedly features a leather floor, Baccarat crystal chandelier, $80,000 Andy Warhol shoe print, a computer that tracks when she wears items of clothing and a camera to give her a 360-degree "cat scan" of her outfit before she steps out..."

If this is true, then that is like, totally awesome in a Cher getting ready for school in Clueless sort of way.

WHAT WOULD TYLER DURDEN DO?: POSH SPENDS MONEY WISELY

Oh Word?

PITCHFORK: Patrick Wolf Models for Burberry

Black. Star. Power.

Are you bumping The Evolution yet? And yes okay, I'll say it; I get an aerobics instructor vibe here and there from the performance as well.


Though I am not on that whole, we are making history tonight tip that Monique was on, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed last night's BET Awards. Nothing more. Nothing less.

And yes, I'm just as surprised as you are.

STATUS AIN'T HOOD: The BET Awards: A Running Diary

Around the world. [with Kanye West]

Damn they don't make em like this anymore...

Still not sure how in love I am with this song, but I will say this: This video is fresh to def; Cassie dancing around looking pretty is a whole lot more fun to look at then your average non-dancing stripperesque video hoes present in every other rap or hip-hop video; AND anybody who makes Daft Punk's instant-classic Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger accessible to the folks in the club AGAIN, gets points in my book.

FUCK YOU BON JOVI!

Yeah I said it.



Yeah, fuck you Bon Jovi for taking the top spot on the charts this week with your Nashville themed album Lost Highway. Yeah it's your first #1 album since 1988, but I don't care. Man... I really wanted the White Stripes to grab this week's #1 spot. [Though I am happy that 223,000 copies of Icky Thump were sold, landing it in the number two spot, ahead of Brad Paisley]

So fuck you Bon Jovi and your Lost Highway.

That is all.

BILLBOARD: Bon Jovi Scores First No. 1 Album Since 1988

Meet me in the club, it's going down!

Hey you! Yes you! Do you like the Beatles? What about Paul McCartney? And his solo stuff? Well do I have some news for you!

BUZZ BANDS: Yes, it's that Paul McCartney, in a record store near you

Gonna dress you up in my love!

Menomena's Gay A. Grizzly Bear's Knife. And Patrick Wolf's The Magic Position.

What do these three songs all have in common?

They made Hypeful's Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgendered flavored playlist in honor of Gay Pride Month. Check out the list below.

HYPEFUL: Hypeful About Gay Musicians

Listen without prejudice.

FILE UNDER: A Moment of Clarity



"It's not the actual content of My December, Kelly Clarkson's just-released third album, that currently makes it unlistenable. I'm not saying that it's a bad album — it's a solid, heartfelt, occasionally beautiful exercise in mainstream modern rock, and most reviews are confirming that. My December is unlistenable in the sense that nobody can really hear it. Sometimes this happens to a work of art: The din around it from a controversy renders the thing itself mute...Everyone who loves pop music needs to feel a bit chagrined about this one and try next time to do as another often-besmirched pop star, George Michael, once advised: listen without prejudice."

Amen sister. Amen.

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Kelly Clarkson's dispute with Clive Davis has made her music hard to hear

CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Will Kelly Clarkson survive clash with record company?

Video of the Night!

A Sunday or two back I found myself in one of those social settings where you are just surrounded by all these boisterous, fun loving characters you rarely see out and about in public, prompting you to wonder aloud where all these people are when the sun isn't down. Well, apparently said characters like to wander the streets, and act a fool whenever Amy Winehouse is around, trying to get from point A to point B on the mean streets of Los Angeles

Amy Winehouse. Tears Dry On Their Own.

Enjoy!

Off the wall

Chris Brown's debut album was quite the sleeper hit for me. Got my hands on it two summers ago, long after all the kids on the block were bumping it and adding his singles to their myspace pages. Go ahead. Go get your hands on Chris' self titled LP and try not to be entertained. 15 tracks where the steam doesn't begin to run out til about track 12 or 13? Quite a feat for a modern R&B record if you ask me.

Coming this August Chris comes at us again with his sophomore LP Exclusive. Presented below is the video for the lead single Wall to Wall. Now this song has been bouncing around the net for a while, and upon first hearing it I wasn't impressed. But with each listen I am warming up to it. Definitely a grower. Check it out!

I think I'm in love.

We didn't change the channel. Entourage came to an end, and we didn't change the channel. We were nervous and excited. [Okay maybe it was just me] But we missed Flight last week, and were still riding on the high we got from Entourage. [Okay maybe it was just me]

But we had been here before.

I feel bad for the folks behind John From Cincinatti. When the Sopranos ended we spent a good 20-25 minutes rewatching that ending and cracking jokes and talking jive over JFC. And when we finally tried to take JFC in, we quickly decided that right now, at this moment, maybe John From Cincinatti isn't for us.

No such problem with Flight of the Conchords.

It started and the laughs came with a quickness, especially when this song started. I didn't even mind that they were doing the whole song inserted into dialogue thing a la Dreamgirls. It all just worked. Check it out! And keep checking it out. Sundays. 10:30 PM following Entourage.

HBO: Flight of the Conchords

MYSPACE: Flight of the Conchords [I think you can peep the episode here. I think]

Play that beat!

Believe me, I adore playing an old school hit like nobody's business, but sometimes there's nothing better than putting on one of your favorite long players, enjoying it for what it is: a tip-top, start to finish "headphone masterpiece".



Will you love me if I'm a mess?...

If you asked me right now how this record managed to weasel its way into my record collection, I couldn't give you a clear answer, cause I don't remember. But I will say this: in August of 2003, I was ready to return to my college campus and shout how in love I was with this gem of a record produced by that guy who used to star in Blue's Clues, with a little help from Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins of the Flaming Lips. Til this day I have yet to meet many people who I can hold a discussion with regarding this album. It's almost as if it came and went, and that's a shame, for this is an album filled with 45 minutes of heart tugging lullabies to paralyze. [in a completely good way of course] Right out of the gate, Burns' lets it be known that he is a 'mighty little man', singing clearly, rising above the "sudden crash" and "sonic booms" of the wall of sound he surrounds himself with. This track sets a precedent for what is to come for the rest of the album. The songs rise and fall, swell, and swoon, alloting equal amounts of time and space for the Soft Bulletin like inflections peppered throughout courtesy of Drozd and Ivins, and the evocative, soft croon of Burns himself, which in turn aids in highlighting his tales of simplicity, unrequited love, and songs for dustmites. Shame we have yet to hear anything else from him since.

KEY TRACKS: Mighty Little Man/A Song for Dustmites/A Reason

This is how we do it.

Yes it is 98 Degrees. You don't even know...

Now if you visit this blog often, you know that old school jams are more often than not posted under the "Old School Funk for the True Funk Soldiers" headline. But sometimes old school joints are so good, so well put together, so classic to a brotha, [see Montell Jordan's This is how we do it] that all I can do is marvel at their goodness as they boldly play on and show us how's it done. This jam, presented below, is one such example.


90's boy band magic at its finest courtesy of 98 Degrees.

90's fashion [turtlenecks, backwards cap, and bubble jackets/vests- OH MY!] - check
Over emoting the lyrics - check
Ducking, pointing, and singing - check
Sports motif - check [gotta keep that masculinity in check]
Random beefcake shots [weights included]- check
Giving it to the camera - check
Falestto ad-libs - check, check, check!

Don't ask me why, put this song popped into my head while at work today. And then I went and revisited the video.



Good times.

Stronger?

"It was dope.[A new unreleased Britney track] It reminded me of that one song you hear at 1:50 a.m., when they call last call at a club, and it's the hottest, nastiest song you've ever heard in your life and you've just got to put your drink down and dance to it. You've got no choice. You're body is insisting on it."-25 year old dancer Sam Pete

PEOPLE: Britney to Join Cyndi Lauper's Tour for Surprise Show

Get on the floor...

And dance with me...

Sean Kingston/Beautiful Girls/the DJ Sujinho Remix

Brought to you once again by the folks over at

Discobelle!

Good looking out.

Oh Word?

Remember this phase?

"...Hill has recently gone back into the studio with the goal of making a new LP. In all seriousness...She theoretically has a library of unreleased material in the vault, since she has consistently recorded over the past decade (we just haven't heard anything yet). But the hip-hop star's camp says Hill has cooked up a batch of fresh new material and there will probably be some collaborations once the project is finally released..."

It's about damn time.

MTV NEWS: Lauryn Hill Suits Up For Second LP After Breaking The Ice With Penguin Song

Get me bodied!

T-minus 6 days and counting...

You know growing up I didn't care for sports. [which is quite sad seeing as how I was quite the running back and wide reciever whenever the gang and I played a game of touch football in the street] And I was quite fond of music and dancing in my bedroom as a form of working out. And you know what else I was super into? The Spice Girls. [I wonder if my close friends and family gave up on my masculinity from that point forward.] From the end of seventh grade to the end of my senior year of high school I was blessed with a wonderful mentor who shared a love of the arts, especially music, so it was only natural that I dragged him along, for my first concert, to Devore, California to take in the Spiceworld show. Yeah that's right. I said it. First concert. It's all good though, he flirted with single moms [cause there were plenty in abundance] while I sang and danced til my heart gave out with the crowd of [mostly] young and teenage girls. [It was the summer of 1998 so I was about 14 years old]

[Yeah that's right Teresa. That sleevless Spice Girls shirt I am wearing in one of my Myspace photos that you referred to as a Tunic is from the actual Spiceworld concert]

Yep big fan, this kid right here. Books, CD's, cassettes, and I'll stop here cause I want to hold onto a least a slither of whatever is left of my masculinity.
[But rest assured I don't own any dolls. Nope. Not for me. I did buy my younger sister a Scary Spice doll for her birthday at the height of their fame though.]

Yeah...

So anyways, why all the nostalgia? Cause the girls may be coming around again to spice up our lives. And now that I can drink and get my grown man on, this may be a trip down memory lane worth taking. Who's with me?

THE SUN: Spice Girls return is certain

New flava in ya ear!

Interpol - No I in Threesome [Scroll down. Selection number three.]

Nice.

Video of the Day!

You know, it took a few spins, but I must say, Rufus Wainwright's latest disc Release the Stars is quite stunning and easy to enjoy if you are already along for the ride. Presented below is the video for his new single Rules and Regulations. If you have a thing for fitness and excercise regimens from the olden times, tea and krumpets, and synchronized dancing, then this video is for you.



Spotted over at

Stereogum.

This is the remix.

D.A.N.C.E. Still the gift that keeps on giving. And who better to remix the track than the boys of MSTRKRFT? Go on, press play, and add it to a playlist.

JUSTICE - D.A.N.C.E. [MSTRKRFT RMX]

Big ups to

Discobelle

for the track!

Quote of the Night!

Have you gone out and bought a copy of Icky Thump yet?

"...I wrote yesterday that Kanye West is the only guy working who takes pop stardom seriously. Well, Jack White apparently is the only guy working right now who takes rock stardom seriously, and that's a different thing. He's totally determined to drag all of us into his squirming, feverish brain-space, and he's willing to write some amazing songs if that's what it takes to get us there. Icky Thump makes his universe sound like a fun place to be."

STATUS AIN'T HOOD: Some of Us Really Like Icky Thump

Old school funk for the true funk soldiers!

So I'm on a Queens of the Stone Age/White Stripes kick as of late. I can't help it. They both released new albums within a week of each other, and they both kick ass. And their previous albums are worth revisiting also. That's why I am currently bumping the Queens' previous effort, Lullabies to Paralyze, and wondering if the lead single off that disc, Little Sister was in any way popular with the listening public, cause well, it's simple, it kicks ass, and is, in my opinion one of the best singles of the 2000's. Just saying.