In The Christmas Groove - Various Artists

In The Christmas Groove (2009)


This album came out last year but I didn't hear about it til this year.  My dad had a very soft spot for quirky songs, but especially holiday songs.  He would put together mixes (on cassette, yes cassette!) for the annual Christmas party at his friends Ted & Peggy Claire's house.  I figured my brother and I could use a break from some of those more overplayed & emotionally-scarring songs. (really: Yogi Yorgesson's "I Yust Go Nuts Ay Christmas"? No thanks!)
Big ups to the fine folks at Strut for saving Christmas with some funk!!

Favorite: Funk Machine - "Soul Santa"; J.D. McDonald - "Boogaloo Santa"; The Black On White Affair - "Auld Lang Syne" - so, so funky!

Christmas Remixed

Christmas Remixed by Various Artists (2003)


Favorites: Dean Martin - "Jingle Bells" (Dan the Automator remix); Charles Brown - "Merry Christmas Baby" (MNO remix)

Go - Jónsi

Go by Jónsi (2010)


first time solo album from this Sigur Rós front man.

Favorite: "Boy Lilikoi"

New York City Live - Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

New York City Live by Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (2007)

Favorites: "Juke Box" "War"

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West (2010)

Favorite: "Monster" (ft. Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj &Bon Iver) - Nicki kind of kills this!! I was a hater until I heard her verse on this song.
"Who Will Survive In America" - I always loved me some Gil-Scott Heron tho!

The Bright Mississippi - Allen Toussaint

The Bright Mississippi by Allen Toussaint (2009)

Favorite: "Dear Old Southland" "Blue Drag" "Solitude"

Shapeshifters - Invincible

Shapeshifters - Invincible (2008)


Powerful Detroit hip hop.


Favorite: "Sledgehammer"

Something For Everybody - Devo

Something For Everybody by Devo (2010)

a lot of fun! I mean, the end of "Don't Shoot (I'm A Man)" is a refrain, 3 times, of "Don't taze me, bro!"

Favorite: "Fresh"

Ya-Ma-Kay - Galactic

Ya-Ma-Kay by Galactic (2010)

Pretty solid from start to finish. There are only a few songs that I didn't really like but overall it's winning!

Favorites: "Boe Money" (ft. The Rebirth Bras Band); "Heart Of Steel" (ft. Irma Thomas); "Katey vs. Nobby" (ft. Katey Red & Sissy Nobby); "Dark Water" (ft. John Boutte)

LotusFlow3r: MplSound - Prince

LotusFlow3r: MplSound by Prince (2009)


wow, he took it back to the sound of the "Purple Rain" days!

Favorite: "Crimson & Clover" -Prince's version of a mash up with "Wild Thing"! "Here" "4ever" "Feel Good, Feel Better, Feel Wonderful" "$"

From The Home Of Brown Babies & White Mothers - Big Quarters

From The Home Of Brown Babies & White Mothers by Big Quarters (2009)


Minneapolis hip hop. Mostly mellow and soulful. word!

Favorites: "All Day Long" "Good Look"

like their video, too.

Surfing The Void - Klaxons

Surfing The Void by Klaxons (2010)

Favorite: "Venusia" "Flashover" - intro & chorus are HARD!! (not so into the verses)

My Way - Lady Saw

My Way by Lady Saw (2010)

Don't really like most of the songs on here.

Favorite: "Every Way Mi Go" "I'm A Woman"

The Red, White & Black - The BellRays

The Red, White & Black - The BellRays (2005)


A little less polished than I like, but her voice is amazing!

Favorite: "Black Is The Color"

Go Go Power - Sugar Pie DeSanto

Go Go Power: The Complete Chess Singles 1961-1966 by Sugar Pie DeSanto (2009)


Today is the 5 year anniversary of my father passing away. (and I'm in NYC to see my friend Christina's play, "Bandage", at FightFest at the Brick Theater. No moping here!) In his honor, I wanted to share an album by an amazing, joyous, soulful lady from the bay area: something he surely would have enjoyed.

Favorites: "In The Basement" (ft. Etta James) - Until I heard this album, I had never realized she sang this - one of my favorite soul songs!
"Use What You Got" "Can't Let You Go" "Soulful Dress"


check her out! She may be an old lady but she is GETTIN' IT!


and a bonus video, because she's that amazing. A tiny lady with a HUGE voice.

$O$ - Die Antwoord

$O$ - Die Antwoord (2010)

weird South African hip hop.

I'm posting this today in honor of my friend Christina "Kit" Bihun because she loves them & I'm heading to NYC today to see her new play, Bandage, as part of FightFest at the Brick Theater.

I didn't originally like Die Antwoord, but after listening to the full album a couple times through, there are a few stand out tracks.

Favorite: "Fish Paste" "She Makes Me A Killer"

Least Favorite: "Enter The Ninja" "Rich Bitch"

Wild Young Hearts - Noisettes

Wild Young Hearts - Noisettes (2009)

Favorites: "Don't Upset The Rhythm" "Never Forget You" 

24-Hour Karate School - Ski Beatz

24-Hour Karate School - Ski Beatz (2010)


Favorite: "Prowler 2" (ft. Jean Grae, Jay Electronica, Mos Def & Joell Ortiz); "Back Uptown" (ft. Camp Lo)

Also notable, but not actually on the officially released album is Mos Def's track of the same name: 24-Hour Karate School

The ArchAndroid - Janelle Monáe

The ArchAndroid by Janelle Monáe (2010)

took me a while to really appreciate this album: it's really long (at 18 tracks) so there's a lot to digest. She's pretty involved - makes sense that Big Boi would work with her, he's used to dealing with really unusual but hugely talented characters!

Favorites: "Tightrope" ft. Big Boi, "Locked Inside" "Mushrooms & Roses" "Wondaland"

First caught glimpse of her in the video for "Tightrope" - embedding has been disabled but you can peep for yourself some of her charisma & style to see why I liked her http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwnefUaKCbc"here

Least Favorite: "Come Alive (The War Of The Roses)"

Plastic Beach - Gorillaz

Plastic Beach by Gorillaz (2010)

strangely my most favorite songs are not the ones with the hip hop guest appearances (Mos Def, De La Soul), tho I do like the intro with Snoop Dogg & The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble.

Favorites: "White Flag" (ft. Kano, Bashy & The Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music) "To Binge" (ft. Little Dragon)

Odd Blood - Yeasayer

Odd Blood - Yeasayer (2010)

Really enjoying this album. One of my favorites of 2010, for sure. I just keep coming back to it.

Favorites: "Mondegreen" "O.N.E." "Ambling Alp"


"O.N.E." by Yeasayer from Secretly Jag on Vimeo.

Into The Wind - Bei Bei & Shawn Lee

Into The Wind by Bei Bei & Shawn Lee (2010)


If you like Wu-Tang Clan & their old-school Shaolin Kung-Fu movie samples, you'll love this album! Bei Bei, a traditional performer of the Gu Zheng (classical Chinese stringed instrument, it resembles a harp), teams up with Shawn Lee, a California-based hip hop producer from the Ubiquity Records camp.

Favorites: "Whiskey Waltz" "Willingness" "The Master Room" "Hot Thursday"

I Learned The Hard Way - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

I Learned The Hard Way by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (2010)


I've already mentioned these guys. They still got it!

Favorites: "Money" "She Ain't A Child No More" "If You Call"

The Lady Killer - Cee-Lo Green

The Lady Killer by Cee-Lo Green (2010)


Highly anticipated 3rd solo album by this Atlanta native.  Unfortunately, it's kind of hit or miss, tho some of the songs have grown on me over repeat listens.

Favorites: "Bright Lights, Bigger City"



"F*ck You" "Love Gun" ft. Lauren Bennett

Most people have already seen & talked about his video for "F*ck You" but if you were under a rock somewhere for the past few months, here it is.

The Dreamer Mixtape - Aima The Dreamer

The Dreamer Mixtape - Aima The Dreamer mixed by J-Boogie (2010) 


My best friend lent me this cd when I was home recently. It was great to have some new music to listen to on my ride home (that didn't involve me using the iphone to tape converter in my stereo since the connection there is crazy finicky).


It's some bay area conscious hip hop. The mix veers from hip hop to more house-y in feel but Aima definitely does her thing on every song.

Favorite: "Bom Bom" by Crown City Rockers ft. Aima

How I Got Over - The Roots

How I Got Over by The Roots (2010)

runs like a mixtape, with one song flowing pretty seamlessly into the next.
Unfortunately there are a host of less-than-stellar guest mc spots on this album. Black Thought outshines them all whenever he's on but maybe he's getting tired? They have been doing this for a long time now!

Favorites: "Hustla" - BUMPS!

"Hustla" by The Roots (feat. STS) from Bigger Than Blogging on Vimeo.

"The Day" "Doin' It Again" "Walk Alone" "Radio Days" "How I Got Over" - very heavy Curtis Mayfield influence!
Least Favorite: "Dear God 2.0"

Head First - Goldfrapp

Head First by Goldfrapp (2010)
overall this album is very ethereal with lots of breathy vocals from Ms. Goldfrapp, something you might guess from the album artwork.  It's kind of disco-tinged electronic but not really dancefloor disco.

Favorites: "Believer" "Dreamer" "Shiny And Warm"
Least Favorite: "I Wanna Life"

Cizana De Los Amores - Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Cizana De Los Amores by Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (2010)

yet another solo album from this prolific musician - front man of The Mars Volta (formerly of At The Drive-In).
He's accompanied by a female vocalist on this one. her voice gets kind of annoying at times, epescially on tracks like "Infiel Hasta La Muerte"

Favorite: "Nada De Amor"
Least Favorite: "Infiel Hasta La Muerte"

Explores the Music of Henry Mancini - Quincy Jones

Explores the Music of Henry Mancini by Quincy Jones (originally recorded in 1964; 2009)

Favorite: "Baby Elephant Walk" "Mr. Lucky" "Soldier In The Rain" - hauntingly beautiful harmonica work courtesy of Toots Thielemans

Reach Out! - Hank Mobley

Reach Out by Hank Mobley (1965)


Favorite: "Beverly"

Drift - Nosaj Thing

Drift by Nosaj Thing (2009)

After hearing the remix he did for The XX's "Islands", I wanted to hear more, so I sought out his album from last year.  It's a bit more minimal than I expected but still has some pretty dope beats.

Favorite: "Quest" - even tho it's the intro, it does a perfect good job of letting you know what to expect on the rest of the album. "Light #1" "Us"

The Foley Room - Amon Tobin

The Foley Room by Amon Tobin (2007)


listening to his newest project the other day made me want to go back a little further to his last previous album.  Hearing to this one again, I remembered just how much I liked it.

Favorite: "Bloodstone" ft The Kronos Quartet "The Killer's Vanilla"

Death of The Revolution - Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno

Death of The Revolution by Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno (2008) 


Favorite: "Westbound Train"  - hints at the guitar refrain of Al Green's "Love & Happiness", one of my all time favorite songs, but expands from there.
"Cuidad Del Swing" "Alegria En Bella Vista" "Juanita Bonita"

Dog With A Rope - Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno

Dog With A Rope by Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno (2010)

Favorite: "Dog With A Rope" "Te Picó El Yaibí (Version)"

Brothers - The Black Keys

Brothers - The Black Keys (2010)


I really like these guys. Was glad to hear a new project from them this year.  Sadly, I did miss them when they were in town a couple weeks back. :(




Favorite: "Tighten Up" "Everlasting Light" "Sinister Kid" "The Go Getter" "Unknown Brother"
Least Favorite: "Ten Cent Pistol" - not that it's bad, just a little too similar to other tracks on the album.

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix (2009)

slightly disco-influenced rock from this French band. 

Favorite: "1901" & "Lisztomania" have both been played to death.  I dig the vibe of "Fences".

nice to hear the variation on the L'Aiglon Remix of "1901" on the bonus disc. 

Swim - Caribou

Swim - Caribou (2010)  

very funky. 

Favorite: "Odessa"

no.3 - JJ

no.3 - JJ (2010)


3rd album from this Swedish group (first I've heard from them tho) Very airy vocals. Gets a bit one-note but chill.


Favorite: "My Life" - a partial cover of The Game's song (partial because it's just a cover of the hook that Lil' Wayne sings).

Sound Of The Police - Cut Chemist

going to see The Heavy tonight at the El Rey.  Very excited since I've missed them at least the past 2 times that they played in LA. 

Sound Of The Police - Cut Chemist (2010)

Newest release from this Los Angeles DJ/Producer.  Very funky with all kinds of world beats in the mix. It runs like a mixtape so there's not really one song to like or dislike.  But if you're a fan, you need to pick this up!


There are a couple singles floating around from it tho. The  first I heard was "Adidas to Addis" 

Cosmogramma - Flying Lotus

Cosmogramma - Flying Lotus (2010) 

BEATS!! 

Favorite: "Do The Astral Plane"  

Come Around Sundown - Kings Of Leon

R.I.P. to  my mom.  2 years today.  Hard to believe.  :(

Come Around Sundown by Kings Of Leon (2010)
this all kind of blends together. kind of monotonous really. 

Favorite: "Radioactive"


had the opportunity to work with the production team behind this video shortly after they shot it so I got to see the video in several stages as they edited it. I think it came out pretty great.... the toughest shoots usually do.

Monthly Joints Series - Amon Tobin

Monthly Joints Series by Amon Tobin (2010)

typical fare for this Brazillian-born producer. drum and bass twinged complexities. almost cinematic developments within the compositions.
"Dualistic" - starts off with a nice little handclap. 

Favorite: "Eight Sum" "Technique" "Twelvses"

LP4 - Ratatat

LP4 by Ratatat (2010) 

really funky instrumentals.

to (possibly slightly mis-)quote A-Trak, "The vocal bassline on 'neckbrace' is one of the most screw-face inducing things I've heard in a long time. In a good way". If that's not a recommendation, I don't know what is.

Favorite: "Neckbrace" "Bilar" "Party With Children" - is that a harpsichord I hear? "Grape Juice City" - replete with birds chirping!

Red Velvet Car - Heart

Red Velvet Car by Heart (2010)

First new album from this sister-duo in 6 years! I didn't realize they even had a release that recently....

there are no "Crazy On You"s or "Magic Man"s on here.
nothing's really jumping out at me...

Favorite:
"There You Go" [file is in FLAC, not mp3] "Red Velvet Car"
Least Favorite: "Queen City"

I Am Not A Human Being - Lil Wayne

I Am Not A Human Being - Lil Wayne (2010) 


Favorite: "I Am Not A Human Being" "I Don't Like The Look Of It" "YM Banger" (ft. Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda, Tyga)



Least Favorite: "I'm Single" Wayne's storytelling is in full effect, but it's just too slow to keep my interest.
"Popular" his rhyming just seems lazy & the hook is not doing it for me.
hiphop

XX - The XX

XX by The XX (2009)

really chill debut album from this British trio who have been blowing up since it dropped last year.

The XX live at the Hollywood Palladium - September 22, 2010

got to see them live a couple weeks back at the Hollywood Palladium as they kicked off their most recent (and apparently last, for a while) tour. Great show. remarkable amount of lesbians there.


Favorite: "Shelter" "Infinity" "VCR"


Loving this remix by Nosaj Thing too: "Islands" (Nosaj Thing remix)

and their videos are very well done - especially this one, directed by Saam Farahmand...


The xx - islands (Official MV) from JOOONAE LEE on Vimeo.

To Lose My Life - White Lies

To Lose My Life by White Lies (2009)

British rock - very new-wave influenced

Favorite: "E.S.T." "From The Stars" "The Price Of Love"

Ephemeral Exhibits - Starkey

Ephemeral Exhibits by Starkey (2008)

I've been getting into dubstep a decent amount lately. I like the wobble.

Starkey's part of the Trouble & Bass crew out of Philly. He's kind of blowing up right now. He was even selected by Ninja Tune luminary, Amon Tobin, to create an exclusive EP to premiere the "featured artists" section of Tobin's website. 

"Gutter Music" definitely starts things off strong.

"Pictures" is a little repetitive for me.

"Miracles" is a little less intense with more atmospherics & a haunting vocal sample.

"Marsh" is also a lot more on the chill side & switches up drastically about 2 minutes in. In fact, it's almost as if it's two separate tracks because there is a noticable pause between the two parts of the track.

I think my main problem with the harder tracks like "Pictures" & "Escape" is that they run too long, as if intended to be used in a mix.  However, if that's the case, those longer versions should have been released separately as extended mixes & the versions on the album should have been shortened to flow more continually with the vibe of the rest of the album.

Shine Through - Aloe Blacc

Shine Through by Aloe Blacc (2006)

When this album came out, I assumed it was just a solo from the emcee from the LA underground hip hop group Emanon.  Imagine my surprise when I put it on only to encounter Aloe singing (some of it in Spanish), multi-cultural polyphonic rhythms & practically NO rapping. The one song he does rhyme on, "Caged Birdsong," features a girl singing on the hook & is one of the weaker tracks on the album.

Vocally, he reminds me of Anthony Hamilton, tho his voice is not as strong.  Lyrically, he's not as well developed and his phrasing isn't as nice.  

He covers John Legend's "Ordinary People" in Spanish.  He also covers Sam Cooks "Long Time Coming" but with a hip-hop inflected, bass-heavy beat and a dreamlike string loop.  Not my favorite version of an amazing song.

I'm a fan of Aloe's rapping on previous efforts (like with his group, Emanon) much more than his singing, but this album has some nice selections for the summer.

Favorite: "Patria Mia" "Busking"

Least Favorite: "Want Me"