"Si, se puede!"

FILE UNDER: PRIMARIES: So fucking disco!


"I may have been on the fence beforehand, but man this video...powerful. Just powerful. Thank you will.i.am. Thank you."


"...Latino voters have given Clinton overwhelming support in some contests, notably California, where they favored her over Obama by roughly 30%, contributing significantly to her victory here. Partly, this may be because Latino voting power in this country owes much to Bill Clinton, who as president tapped several prominent Latinos -- Bill Richardson, Federico Pena, Henry Cisneros -- for positions of influence. Also, Latino voters traditionally have valued experience over soaring rhetoric. And some Latinos -- like some Anglos -- sadly have shown distaste for African American candidates, a reserve exacerbated by tensions between blacks and Latinos in many American cities. That last factor -- prejudice -- is rarely addressed directly, but it stalks this campaign..."

LOS ANGELES TIMES: Hola, Obama

Riddle Me This?

Is it sad that it's 10 PM on a Saturday night in Los Angeles and I am sitting here trying to unwind and actually enjoying this here disc?

Oh Word?

It's a beautiful day?

"...As for the direction U2's album is headed, Lanois is brief in describing the record, which should be out this fall.

"I can tell you a little bit about the fundamental quality," he says. "It's very much hand-played but it's also electro."..."

CANOE--JAM! MUSIC: U2 going 'electro' on new album

For Your Consideration.

"COME INTO MY HOUSE!"*

Seriously, give these girls a chance. Album one was surprisingly satisfying.

Earlier...

A Moment of Clarity.

*P.S. The cute blonde one, Aubrey, in the middle? Barely recognizable. I don't even think that's her...

Boy Looka Here.

It's the way you walk, and the way you talk...

I know, I know. Again, Tapes n' who? Tapes 'N Tapes. They came, we saw, we hung them up to dry and moved on to the next indie sensation. Well they're back and you best believe they want you to pay just as much attention to them as you did before. And after listening to this dark, sordid stomp through Tapes 'N Tapes manor, you probably will.

Hang Them All - Tapes 'N Tapes

Earlier...

Hey!

Ba da ba ba ba!

Justice.

Phantom Pt. II.

Act like you know.

The Sweet Escape.

FILE UNDER: New flava in ya ear!


So I don't know if you've heard...but this is album is a big fucking deal.


BIGMAMA: Tauwan?
TAUWAN: [Bumping 50 Cent's I Get Money. Chilling] Yes?
BIGMAMA: Go on my bed and look in the Target back and pick which one you want to listen to.
TAUWAN: [Walks to Bigmama's room, looks in the bag and sees two discs Michael Jackson's 25th Anniversary edition of Thriller and Lenny Kravitz's It Is Time For A Love Revolution. Grabs one of them and proceeds to immediately rip the packaging with his teeth. Walks back to the kitchen. Disc in mouth.] I decided to go with this one.
BIGMAMA: Which one is that?
TAUWAN: Thriller.
BIGMAMA: I thought you were gonna open Lenny Kravitz.
TAUWAN: Nope. I have been listening to this all week.

And I have.

I feel bad for Michael and the folks at the record company.

All week I have been playing Thriller. Start to finish. No skipping. Loving it each and every time. And it's all thanks to Michael and his handlers, reminding of its magic this week, practically begging me to bump this headphone, dancefloor masterpiece again.

And that is why I'm sorry.

Cause I feel that I am not alone in these actions. We all own Thriller.

[It sold a gajillion fucking copies for christaskes.]

We all love it.

And each and every review, construction poster advertisement, and ad in the paper, begged me to go ahead and dust it off...

...not purchase it.

No matter how much I love me some Will.i.am production [seriously, peep Chris Brown's Exclusive and play Picture Perfect. Postmodern pop never sounded so good.], Fergie's The Dutchess [yeah I said it], and Kanye West, I don't need to fork over 10-17 more dollars for an album I own that is already near and dear to me, and still in good condition.

And, again, I am sure I'm not alone in this sentiment.

Especially once I read that the bonus DVD only contains 4 videos !?@#

No thank you, I'm just fine.

I was eager about those remixes though, and,... Well... Will.i.am takes The Girl Is Mine [a song that only I seem to adore, saccharine wordplay and all] and erases Paul McCartney completely. It's nice to be shocked and amazed at the timelessness quality of Michael's newly added vocals, but that is quickly taken away and re-gifted once Will.i.am decides to place a microphone above his boards. Luckily he more than makes up for it with his P.Y.T. mix, which is pretty nice, and could be a hit if originally released today. [Just ask Mariah "Touch My Body" Carey]. But Fergie's Beat It duet is straight garbage, ditto Kanye's Billie Jean which, we all know, was doomed from the start, destined to not be able to hold a candle to the original.

Only one remix shines and [non?] surprisingly, it comes from Akon, whose slowed down piano ballad version of Wanna Be Startin Somethin is out of this world. Like Snoop Doog with a fro and some chest hair on display on a round motel bed in outerspace sensual seduction style, out of this world. I admit, I laughed when the Konvict business card came on at the start of the track, but trust, ain't nothing to laugh at once the vocals kick in, and up until the song comes to an end. Akon sounds the best I've ever heard em sound. Yeah, he could sing, but he couldn't sing if you know what I mean. But he does it here. And the added lyrics work. Michael's verses and chorus serve more as a sample, much in the way it does for Rihanna's just as wonderful Don't Stop the Music.

I didn't know Akon had it in him. [Though I must admit I love me some Lonely and Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape.]

And neither will you.

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' [2008 Remix] - Michael Jackson and Akon

Jungle Love.

FILE UNDER: PRIMARIES: So Fucking Disco!


Dearly Beloved...

"On Sunday Barack Obama completed his sweep of the most recent primaries with a devastating win in Maine. At the same time, 3,000 miles away across the country at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, Morris Day and the Time took the stage at this years Grammys for a blistering performance. This cannot be a coincidence. It occurred to me today the narrative of 2008s primary campaign is beginning to eerily resemble Purple Rain..."

Jeff Weiss, you had me at hello.

PASSION OF THE WEISS: Disco Vietnam: The 2008 Election and its Eerie Parallels With Purple Rain

You don't know, what you do!

FILE UNDER: PRIMARIES: So Fucking Disco!


Hot on the campaign trail, Mrs. Hillary Clinton asks, "Obama what? Obama who?"


"In recent days, Clinton has challenged Obama's ability to deliver on his rhetoric.

"There's a big difference between us -- speeches versus solutions, talk versus action," she said.

"Speeches don't put food on the table. Speeches don't fill up your tank or fill your prescription or do anything about that stack of bills that keeps you up at night."..."

CNN: Clinton sharpens attacks on Obama

Earlier...

Stop! Look! What's that sound?

You should be dancing!

FILE UNDER: New flava(s) in ya ear!


Representin' that World Town.

IMEEM: Paper Planes (Homeland Security Remixes) - EP

Ready for the Floor. [Update]

"If you build it, they will come..."

Damn son! Looks like this show may have sold out during the pre-sale that went down this morning. Better look into the whole Jay and Mary Heart of the City sale going down Saturday morning. Unless it too has sold out by the time you finish this message.

LAIST: Win Tickets to Kanye West at NOKIA Theatre LA Live!

Ready for the Floor.

"JUST LET YOUR SOUUUUL GLOWWW!"

So this morning I was thinking, "damn, if I go to this Kanye West show, what the hell am I going to wear?"

Real talk.

A weekend or two back I was at the ever overflowing with Black teenagers spot that is the Bridge. Leaving Marie Callender's. Walking past to the movie, look in the window: large group of young well dressed Black kids. I'm talking boys in flannel shirts, fitted caps, high tops, fitted jeans, [I said "fitted", not tight. Don't get it twisted.], ironic tees, print all over hoodies. Ladies in tights, flashing brights, door knockers, looking fresh. To. Def.

This should come as no surprise to anyone right? Let's not kid ourselves, the Black community has always had its skater bois, club kids, hipsters, and fly girls, but ever since the massive success of playas like Lupe Fiasco, Pharell Williams, and most importantly Kanye West, it's become a little more okay to step out on the block in bright colors, fitted jeans [Again, I said "fitted", not tight. Don't get it twisted.], and kicks that knock. Everybody's got a look these days, from the hood to the wood, and it ain't just a giant white tee with a fitted cap and nondescript jeans.

And when this Glow in the Dark tour rolls into town, best believe that it will. Be. A fashion show both on and off the stage.

Kanye West. Lupe Fiasco. Rihanna. N.E.R.D. Los Angeles. The newly built Nokia Theatre Downtown. [Which I hear has horrible acoustics.] April 21st. Tickets on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.

Get ready for the floor.

Stop! Look! What's that sound?

FILE UNDER: PRIMARIES: So Fucking Disco!


All last week, Barack Obama had this track stuck on repeat on his iPod.

"...If nothing else, a presidential campaign tests a candidate's ability to think strategically and tactically and to manage a very complex organization. We have three plausible candidates remaining--Obama, Clinton and John McCain--and Obama has proved himself the best executive by far. Both the Clinton and the McCain campaigns have gone broke at crucial moments. So much for fiscal responsibility. McCain has been effective only when he runs as a guerrilla; in both 2000 and '08, he was hapless at building a coherent campaign apparatus. Clinton's sins are different: arrogance and the inability to see past loyalty to hire the best people for the job and to fire those who prove inadequate. "If nothing else, we've learned that Obama probably has the ability to put together a smooth-running Administration," said a Clinton super-delegate. "That's pretty important."..."

TIME: The Barack Blowout

Erotic Citaaayy!

FILE UNDER: Old School Funk for the True Funk Soldiers!

This Valentine's Day, ask [politely] and you shall receive?...

T-shirt and my panties on: Afterword.

M

E

S

S

EPAIV22 (9:38:18 PM): Hola
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:38:27 PM): good evening
EPAIV22 (9:38:43 PM): Mariah Careys song is terrible
EPAIV22 (9:38:49 PM): Lol
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:38:56 PM): haha
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:38:59 PM): you ain't feeling it?
EPAIV22 (9:39:05 PM): No
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:06 PM): after all that time and suspense
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:09 PM): and build up
EPAIV22 (9:39:17 PM): It's mess
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:21 PM): and why is bitch's record company going around deleting people's blogs
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:28 PM): for posting an mp3 of th track
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:29 PM): haha
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:39 PM): as if that couldn't help things exposure wise
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:40 PM): haha
EPAIV22 (9:39:46 PM): And people are saying her song is better than Janets stuff
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:55 PM): well this is America
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:58 PM): full of sheep
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:39:59 PM): and lambs
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:40:01 PM): excuse me
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:40:02 PM): lambs
EPAIV22 (9:40:11 PM): Hahahahahahaha
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:40:11 PM): that's what Mariah calls her fans right?
EPAIV22 (9:40:16 PM): Lambs.
EPAIV22 (9:40:23 PM): Correct
EPAIV22 (9:40:29 PM): That's hilarious
EPAIV22 (9:40:37 PM): Those lyrics are just mess
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:42:32 PM): you know I ain't listened to it all the way through actually
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:42:35 PM): haha
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:42:55 PM): I went with the 1:32 second snippet on myspace and was like "okay"
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:42:57 PM): ...
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:43:10 PM): especially once I heard the word wifebeater
EPAIV22 (9:43:15 PM): Hahahaha
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:43:17 PM): guess I should have stuck around though
EPAIV22 (9:43:22 PM): Oh lord
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:43:29 PM): cause she goes on to drop "Wendy Williams"
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:43:36 PM): come on now The Dream
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:44:02 PM): COME ON
EPAIV22 (9:44:23 PM): She's like, " if there's a camera in this room you you better not be filming. If there is a camera in this room I better not catch this flick on you tube. You tube. I'll hunt you down"
EPAIV22 (9:44:29 PM): Wtf?
EPAIV22 (9:44:38 PM): M
EPAIV22 (9:44:43 PM): E
EPAIV22 (9:44:48 PM): S
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:44:53 PM): go on
EPAIV22 (9:44:53 PM): S
OneTokenBlackGuy (9:44:56 PM): thank you

FOURFOUR: Jesus Christ, I love this woman

Earlier...

T-shirt and my panties on.

OH MY GOD!!!!

And anotha one...


WU-TANG! WU-TANG!

DISCOBELLE: Bird Peterson - The Jump Off remix

White lines.

FILE UNDER: New flava in ya ear!


Keep it simple stupid.

Lights and Music [Moulinex Remix] - Cut Copy

Spotted over at

Discobelle.

T-shirt and my panties on.

FILE UNDER: New flava in ya ear!


Pump your brakes girl. Pump your brakes...


So here it is.

The wait is over.

Mariah Carey.

That chick.

New single.

Touch My Body.

Off her upcoming album, E=MC^2.

You wish I was kidding.

MYSPACE: Mariah Carey - Touch My Body

Yeah...I'mma need a few more spins with that one. I see she's still on that "them chickens is ash and I'm lotion" vibe found here and there on The Emancipation of Mimi. Whatevs. It's cool. I mean, it's better than this:



Right?

Boy Looka Here.

FILE UNDER: Big Ups The Mae Shi!/Oh Word?



An 8.1 rating on Pitchfork. Hmm. Not too shabby The Mae Shi. Not too shabby at all...:


"...for anyone who's followed the Mae Shi, this has to come as some sort of payoff. The band has quit cramming as many breakneck riffs as possible into each convulsive track, chilled the fuck out, and begun to focus on linear songs. More than that, the L.A. six-piece has finally made an album that matches their grand ambitions, one that weaves most of their songwriting tricks together with some new ideas, and manages to be listenable and cohesive...This is the band who sold "mixtape" CD-Rs containing several hundred of their favorite songs at a few seconds each and DVDs with 30-plus videos, built their own synths, called previous albums "hip-hoperas" while sounding like the ugly rejected bits of new-wave at 77 RPM, and talked all sorts of shit while reigning spaz-rock terror on any club, supporting slot, or Bar Mitzvah that would have them. No longer; they now walk the walk..."

Boy you ain't never lied.

PITCHFORK: The Mae Shi - HLLLYH

Earlier...

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes?

PUFF (!) the Magic Dragon!

I like Panic At the Disco.

And it's all Bloc Party's fault.

You see I have this friend who, for a brief wrinkle in time, was all about the Bloc Party live. Homegirl would pay to see them open a DuPont paint store if she could. And on this fateful night a summer or three back, we were to make the trek to Long Beach and see the kids get fueled by Ramen. Gym Class Heroes, Cobra Starship, Panic, Bloc Party, and teenagers. Loads and loads of teenagers...in a nearly seatless arena...OH!...MY!...GOD!...- Insert your own Teenage girl Beatlemania/Boy Band glee hysterics here - Unfortunately the band we drove south to see, canceled. Somebody got sick or something and the boys of Bloc Party were a no show. And unfortunately, tickets were already paid for way in advance.

-Sigh-

These fueled by Ramen acts can't be that bad right?

Right!

Let me just go on out and say it. I did not care for Panic At the Disco. Here today gone tomorrow pop rock for the teenage set. Flash in the pan, sorry not a fan, wham bam no thank you ma'am. Just because. I was that guy. You know the one who would turn off I Write Sins, Not Tragedies before it's hook or a few words in a verse could rope me in, cause I just knew I had no business liking something of this ilk.

But not now. Not here. I'm stuck. Ticket is paid for. Got to grin and bear it. And you know what? This ain't half bad. They are really putting on a show. Vocals are on point, the theatrics are whimsical and actually don't distract too much from the music, and they get extra points for performing Killer Queen and Eleanor Rigby to an obviously confused teenage crowd who want to sing along, but for some reason, they just can't. "Must be a unreleased track or something."

And that is how I became a Panic At the Disco fan. I'll spare you the whole I got the album and like it more than I like to admit, play start to finish, sing along in my room tidbits and just leave you with this, the video for their new single Nine in the Afternoon, from their upcoming sophmore albumPretty. Odd. For those seeking a little Thomas the Tank Engine/Fraggle Rock/Teletubbies/Lamb Chop's Play Along action in their lives right now.