A (not so) farewell to another Bush, and a HELLO OBAMA!  Happy New Year's, EVERYBODY!!!

8 Years Of Carnage; The Rebuild Begins...Track Listing:

    1.    (0:00:46) Aphex Twin: AVRIL 14TH - It is only natural to start off the New Year with a piece from probably the single most influential artist in the electronica genre.  Richard James, AKA Aphex Twin, has influenced all realms of music and his work is represented everywhere - the mathmetal band Dillinger Escape Plan even covered Come To Daddy with Mike Patton.  What he was able to do with a laptop and electronic equipment changed what we know as jungle, or even plain melodic electronica.  His name comes from a piece of electronic equipment, which he is licensed to use, and TWIN, representing an older brother with the same name who died at birth.  This song is from disc 1 from drukQs.  It has been said that the two discs were made to be played simultaneously, but it is only speculation.
    2.    (0:02:34) Murcof: MIR - An electronica recording artist from Mexico now residing in Barcelona, Spain.  Murcof was a part of the group Nortec Collective before soloing.  He has since recorded/toured with Swiss-born French contemporary jazz trumpeter Erik Truffaz and legendary tablist/electronica artist, Talvin Singh.
    3.    (0:06:00) Biosphere: BIRDS BLY BY FLAPPING THEIR WINGS - Norwegian musician popular in ambient electronic music.  This song is from the Dropsonde album.
    4.    (0:08:21) Four Tet: HANDS - Song from Rounds LP.  Kiernan Hebden from the UK is all over the place.  He first established himself with the band Fridge, then tried the solo gig.  Now, he also does work with jazz improv. drummer and percussionist Steve Reid, which he has performed for Gilles Peterson on one of his live on BBC 1 broadcast albums.
    5.    (0:12:10) Alice Russell (Bonobo Remix): MIRROR MIRROR ON THE WOLF 'TELL THE STORY RIGHT' - I told you I would keep using this girl.  Now out with her third effort, Pots Of Gold, but this gem comes from her remix album, Under The Munka Moon II.  Bonobo certainly knows how to add his element to the mix when bringing out the original music.  He stays a bit conservative here, but hones in on the genius of Miss Russell's original composition.  
    6.    (0:16:11) Bonobo: WAYWARD BOB - From his Dial M For Monkey LP on Ninja Tune.  At 18 he released his debut album, Animal Magic, on the Tru Thoughts label in 2000.  Ninja Tune is well known for their innovators, and with Bonobo, it's no different Tune!  Bonobo, or Simon Green, has revolutionized downtempo electronica music with his melodic music.  
    7.    (0:20:28) Kid Koala & Amon Tobin: UNTITLED - Two heavy hitters from Ninja Tune, again.  Kid Koala a Canadian hip hop producer, who has opened up for the likes of Radiohead and Bjork, while Amon Tobin controls the realm of 'field' music in the techno world, meaning, he now uses a field microphone to record sounds in the world, and puts them through his computers and distortions, and turns it into music.  Kid Koala was also a part of Deltron 3030 with Del The Funky Homosapien as well as the Gorillaz at one point.  
    8.    (0:25:01) Cunninlynguists: LINGUISTIC (INSTRUMENTAL) - Underground Hip Hop group from the south.  This underground group produces some of the highest quality beats I've heard in awhile, and this is from their instrumental release of their highly acclaimed debut Will Rap For Food.  
    9.    (0:27:05) DJ Spooky: BOMB MASSIVE (OPTOMETRY REMIX) - The Art Blakey of DJ/electronica music, DJ Spooky is always looking for a group to conduct behind his Techniques 1200s.  He was born and I believe still lives in Washington, D.C.  One of my all-time favorite drummers, DeAntoni Parks has worked with him on The Anomaly, which is a drum 'n bass tune that shows Spooky's interest in great drummers, such as Dave Lombardo of Slayer as well.  
    10.    (0:32:21) DJ Shadow: STEM - Half of the Stem/Long Stem track from his groundbreaking, ear-trembling, genre-bending debut, Endtroducing...  When this album first came out, I believe I listened to it non-stop for weeks trying to just grasp what Mr. Josh Davis from California was doing.  This album placed him in the Guinness Book Of World Records for First Record Ever Made Entirely Of Samples.  He used to dig in the basement of a 'mom n pop' record store, where he put his health at risk in order to find some of the rarest music recorded to vinyl.  It was said on album he mixed over 3 years ago that his collection is well over 60,000 vinyls!  Truly one of my musical heroes!
    11.    (0:35:42) Savath & Savalas: PATHS IN SOFT FOCUS - Another moniker for Prefuse 73 star Guillermo Scott Herren.  He also goes by Delarosa & Asora , as well as Piano Overlord.
    12.    (0:38:37) Thom Yorke: DRUNKK MACHINE - B-side release from Thom Yorke's Eraser LP.  Mr. Yorke is a personal favorite of mine, and to me, the John Lennon of my generation.  Every release he or Radiohead does is precise and rather perfect, similar to the ways The Beatles and Lennon once did.  Yorke's vocal phrasing and odd-metered sense flows so flawlessly that he can make the dissonance sound more popular than Brittany Spears or U2.  
    13.    (0:42:19) Blackalicious: WORLD OF VIBRATIONS - Legendary LA underground duo - producer Chief Xcel & rapper Gift Of Gab.  This is from their last album, The Craft, which was richly textured and moved beyond the underground scene to appear at #102 on the Billboard 200, which rarely occurs from the underground.  Their most commercially popular album, Blazing Arrow, reached #49.  Even though these guys haven't released anything together since 2005, they're both quite busy collaborating with other artists and Gift of Gab has his own distribution (Giftstribution).
    14.    (0:44:49) Blockhead: FOREST CRUNK - B-side instrumental from his Ninja Tune debut, Music By Cavelight.  Blockhead is also associated with fellow New Yorker, Aesop Rock, and has produced many of his most important work throughout his career.  
    15.    (0:48:47) Nightmares On Wax: FLIP YA LID - From the sweet In A Space Outta Sound LP.  This Warp Records artist, George Evelyn, or DJ EASE, is a UK electronica musician that specializes in chill and downtempo groove.  He has been producing some of the most influential chill music since 1991 when he came out with A Word Of Science: The First And Final Chapter.
    16.    (0:53:13) Culver City Dub Collective: LEI'S SWEET INSPIRATION DUB - California dub, Jamaican, Afro-Cuban, bossa-nova band rippin' it up on their debut Dos (perhaps a misnomer?).  
    17.    (0:56:30) Fat Freddy's Drop & Alice Russell: THE CAMEL - Fat Freddy's Drop is finally coming out with their successor to Based On A True Story, which Gilles Peterson hailed as the 'best band in the world,' after its release in 2005.  This New Zealand dub band is quite unique, quite simple, yet very effective.  On this single, they've teamed up with UK recording queen, Alice Russell, to give us a gem of a combination.  Joe Dukie, the lead singer, often shares the stage with fellow UK recording artists, and has been featured all over radio DJ mixes from Brazil to the UK.  
    18.    (1:05:11) Booka Shade: PLANETARY - Another record off their newest release The Sun & The Neon Light.  This German electronica duo will have you dancing through the roof by their set's end...that is if you are able to see them live, of course.  Saw them perform at the V-fest in Baltimore a couple years back and remember their performance rocking the house...even more so than The Police's reunion set!
    19.    (1:08:37) Gnarls Barkley: RUN (I'M A NATURAL DISASTER) - Cee-Lo Green & DJ Danger Mouse have collaborated again to produce a soulful pop record, producing another quality performance from the southern portion of the States.  The Dungeon Family (Goodie Mob, Outkast, Big Rube, & Freddie Calhoun) are one of the most solid groups ever formed in the history of the hip hop genre, and between Cee-Lo & Andre 3000, they have pretty much captured a good portion of the entire pop genre expanding their music, their styles, and their creativity.  And from Danger Mouse, we expect nothing less than perfection after his massive success with The Grey Album (The Beatles' White Album mashed with Jay-Z's Black Album), The Gorillaz, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, The Black Keys' newest output, the two underground gems, Dangerdoom (Danger Mouse and MF Doom) as well as Danger Mouse & Jemini, and new production on Beck's latest.  
    20.    (1:11:07) Common w/ Pharrell: UNIVERSAL MIND CONTROL - This is the title single off Common's newest release.  It was originally conceived as a 'celebration of summer EP,' entitled Invincible Summer produced by Pharrell, but decided to record the second half of the EP soon after the date had to be pushed back.  As a whole, the album is not nearly as cohesive as Be or Finding Forever, which were produced by fellow Chi-town guru, Kanye West, but there is always progress when an artist decides to change paths (which this is quite a departure from his previous work, similar to Electric Circus).  I have a feeling that Common's next release, due out some time in 2009 or early 2010, will be one of his strongest yet.  
    21.    (1:14:24) Mylo: DROP THE PRESSURE - From the massively popular Destroy Rock & Roll ablum from UK release 2004.  So far, this Scottish electronica musician has yet to produce a successor, probably because he has the sophomore jitters!  How can you blame him, after producing such a popular album as his first?  This man apparently gave up studying for his philosophy Ph.D at UCLA to return back to Scotland in order to make music - I would have to say, it was probably a great idea!  
    22.    (1:18:14) !!! (Chk Chk Chk): BEND OVER BEETHOVEN - American-based WARP Records stars from their Myth Takes album.  If this song doesn't boost your adrenaline levels at least 5% by its climax, then, well, I can't help you...hehehe.  However, if you're a drummer, I would stay far away from this band if I were you.  The first drummer was killed while riding his bike, the second left to pursue other matters, and now, well, they probably are using a session drummer...they've only put out 2 albums, and have used up to 3 or 4 drummers!  
    23.    (1:26:09) Modeselektor w/ Sasaha Perera: SILIKON - One of mine and Thom Yorke's favorite innovators in electronica music today from Berlin.  Yorke is featured on a track from their newest Happy Birthday! LP.  I've featured at least 3 others throughout my mixes, and will continue to include their music, because it works so well with most mixes.
    24.    (1:29:47) Miwon (John Tejada Mix): BROTHER MOLE - After getting hooked to Andrew Weatherall back when I worked in London, I have to say there is no better way for me to personally end a mix that celebrates a new year than jacking a track off Mr. Weatherall's Fabric 19 mix.  I remember dancing to this track in a Bayswater hotel with a fellow mate of mine, and it gets me hyped every time I hear it.  Andrew Weatherall is quite the innovator, and I strongly suggest checking ALL of his eclectic music out, because this man is truly a one of a kind.  Miwon is a German electronica musician specializing in 'all angles of electronica' in order to produce quality melodies.  

Photo taken in Barcelona of the Gaudi project.

So, You Think Your Soul Can Float? Track Listing:

    1.    Donny Hathaway:  GIVING UP - This single reached #81 on the US pop charts in 1972, seven years before Mr. Hathaway was found dead outside his home at the Essex House in NYC - which they ruled a suicide.  Hathaway was said to have taken up to 14 pills a day to counter his schizophrenia.
    2.    Marvin Gaye:  INNER CITY BLUES (MAKE ME WANNA HOLLER) - Off his monumental album, What's Going On, from 1971.  Gaye was a part of the group The Moonglows, and was also a session drummer.  Two of his drum tracks can be heard on the #1 singles 'Please Mr. Postman' by The Marvelettes, and Stevie Wonder's live version of 'Fingertips Pt.2'.  Gaye added the 'e' to the end of his last name to separate himself from his father, and taboo-ridden questions of his sexual orientation, and to pay homage to his idol Sam Cooke who did the same.  Ironically, Mr. Gaye died at the hands of his father 4 months after giving him a gun as a present.  Gaye had moved in with his parents after suffering bouts with depression.  Gaye intervened in an argument between his mother and father over business documents, and his father accidentally shot and killed him a day before his birthday on April 1, 1984. 
    3.    Soul Children:  I'LL BE THE OTHER WOMAN - Stax Records artists formed by Norman West, with J. Blackfoot, Anita Louis, and Shelbra Bennett.   This track has some of the most confessional lyrics I've heard about being the mistress in a relationship.  The lines, 'I'll be your part time love, but that's as far as I go/To be your part time fool, would be stooping a little too low/Loving a married man, this I really don't mind/But a married Cassanova, is a little out of my line,' are just so amazing to me.  I don't know, what do you think?
    4.    The Beatles:  DON'T LET ME DOWN - Released in 1969 off the Get Back (Let It Be) sessions.  John Lennon giving his all to Yoko Ono on this one.  He opens his vocals to restrain unmatched to emphasize his love to Ono.  Here, all 4 Beatles are in perfect form - George's wonderful ethereal blues, McCartney's deep bass with perfect harmonies over Lennon's cries, and Ringo's syncopation and cymbal work  (crashes especially on Lennon's 'Don't let me down...' are exceptional to the vocal phrasing, increasing in power as his cries grow throughout the track).  This blues gem by The Beatles is hard to believe that this was a B-side!
    5.    Raphael Saadiq:  100 YARD DASH - Oh yes!  Mr. Saadiq has truly completed one of my favorite albums of 2008, taking it back to the Stax Records sounds of the '60s.  After leaving Tony! Toni! Tone! as lead vocalist and bass player, he produced 4 studio solo albums.  He has been quoted saying The Way I See It was the most difficult album he has produced - studying old records and old styles.
    6.    Jethro Tull:  LOCOMOTIVE BREATH - From 1971 album, Aqualung.  This entire track was pieced together from overdubs, similar to most every album made today in the music industry with Pro Tools, etc. 
    7.    Stevie Wonder:  KEEP ON RUNNING - Track off of 1972 hit, Music Of My Mind, the first of 5 classic Stevie albums (Music Of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisons, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs In The Key Of Life).  Stevie ain't know joke, seriously, and if you don't believe me, just YouTube him live, playing every instrument on most of his records - check out his drum solos!!!
    8.    The Quantic Soul Orchestra:  TERRAPIN - Will Holland of the UK, also known as Quantic, produces some of the funkiest music right now, and often collaborates with Alice Russell (see below) and Spanky Wilson.  He's a multi-instrumentalist, and works to revamp funk, salsa, bossa nova, soul, and jazz.
    9.    Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds:  TUPELO - This Aussie eccentric is one damned creative dude, period.  Just go see the movie, The Proposition, which he wrote and developed the score for.  This is a crazy track from the 1993 album, Live Seeds...say what you want, but this track has crazy improv and energy.
    10.    Alicia Keys:  ROCK WIT U - Off of Alicia's debut, Songs In A Minor.  You can definitely feel the Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye influence in this funky song.  I completely dig her earlier style, and this goes against the pop grain clocking in at 5:37. 
    11.    Benny Sings & The Rednose District:  MISS MORAL - Dutch pop artist who also plays bass in the hip hop group, Abstract Dialect. 
    12.    Amy Winehouse:  SOME UNHOLY WAR - This is a crazy beeootcchhh, no question.  Wherever she goes, she's drunk...if she goes!  I mean, coming out with your first worldly-major album entitled (after limited release of Frank) Back to Black and the first track talking about how she's not going back to rehab.  Haha!  However, you have to dig her great voice, but her backing band, The Dap Kings, who also backs Brooklyn-based throwback vocalist, Sharon Jones.
    13.    Marya Josie:  HE DOES IT BETTER - This track is dope.  Stolen off of Gilles Peterson's Brownswood USA compilation - Mr. Peterson is a hero of mine!  Don't have too much information, partially because Gilles did all the dirty work!  The way she ends her vocals in this track is just brilliant with the lyrics and the music...love it!
    14.    Alice Russell:  MEAN TO ME - One of my all-time favorite artists.  UK throwback to the '60s and beyond, to me, blows Winehouse out of the water!   This is from her acoustic version off the Under the Munka Moon II release.  I will be having much more of her featured (on the New Year's mix as well), because she just dropped a new album, Pot Of Gold.  She also works closely with Will Holland/Quantic, and has worked with another fav of mine, Fat Freddy's Drop...
    15.    Duffy:  MERCY - Thanks to my friend George for introducing this young talent to me.  Quite poppy, but in the same vein as Amy W., Alice Russell and Sharon Jones.  She has also been criticized for 'misinterpreting' proper soul music, which she slightly agrees on...who cares?  This 24 year old Welsh singer has been nominated for 3 Grammies with this brilliant album, Rockferry.
    16.    Cee-Lo:  CLOSET FREAK - Before this pop icon became so widely known, he produced, well, just as good as music, including this track from his classic debut, Cee-Lo Green & His Perfect Imperfections.  Cee-Lo was a part of the Dungeon Family (consisting of Big Rube, Freddie Calhoun, Outkast, and the rest of the original Goodie Mob), but has since split (personalities) and pursued his own endeavors - like writing songs for acts like The Pussycat Dolls...oh yeah, who the hell you think wrote their only hit, 'Don't Cha'???
    17.    Solange:  SANDCASTLE DISCO - I don't know what to say, other than this is the second track I've used off of Sister Beyonce's album, Sol-Angel & The Hadley St. Dreams, and I have yet to include Beyonce's music.  Hmmm...I dig her style a bit more, and prefer her music much more...not that Beyonce's not talented, but let's give her sis' a bit of light, too, you know? 

At first frost, I can only hope the cooler days ahead lead me closer to the thaw.

The City's First Frost Track Listing:

    1.    Emiliana Torrini: NOTHING BRINGS ME DOWN - Icelandic singer presenting a track off her Fisherman's Woman LP from 2005.
    2.    Elbow: BITTEN BY THE TAILFLY - Somehow always find themselves buried in the darker, melancholy mixes...perhaps it's just Guy Garvey - the singer - trying his best to make the world his metaphor for a state of in limbo. 
    3.    Cool Breeze: BLACK GANGSTER - Slightly modified version of this Southern Dungeon Family member track from his 'under the radar' East Point's Greatest Hits LP. 
    4.    Psapp: REAR MOTH - London based duo playing with musical idea of toytronics, which uses the sounds of random toys to make the music.  Pretty sweet stuff.
    5.    Pivot: HELPS NONE BUT HURTS NONE - Another track from my newly found Aussie mates. 
    6.    TV On The Radio: LOVE DOG - Oooohhh, check out the new TV, man, it's like, on the Radio!  Love their new sound off of Dear Science.  This Brooklyn based band is comprised of artists that play all sorts of instruments...the drummer is a bassist, and the bassist likes the guitar, and the guitarist likes to scerenade and croon amongst the others...used to see these guys on the corner of N.7 and Bedford less than 10 years ago, and here they are now, in the spotlight!
    7.    The Nightrats: WONDERLAND - Here's a 'wonder'ful track from a friend's band in the outer boroughs of New York.  Please check them out if you're in the city...I have a feeling they will make it big!  Love the French-English vocals, and the bassist/songwriter, Chris McMillen, is something special.  Check out their myspace page for more info: http://www.myspace.com/thenightrats
    8.    David Holmes: THE BALLAD OF SARAH & JACK - Nice track off Mr. Holmes' The Holy Pictures.  This Northern Irishman is massive in the UK, and makes brilliant mixes.
    9.    The Heavy: WHO NEEDS THE SUNSHINE - Oh yes, an introduction to a new 'heavy' in the music industry, another from the UK!  Watch out, you'll hear more of them soon - especially from me!!!
    10.    Fucked Up: LOOKING FOR GOD - Hardcore punk band from Toronto mixes it up on The Chemistry of Common Life, and comes out with one of the biggest punk shockers since The Shape of Funk to Come by Refused. 
    11.    Nas: QUEENS GET THE MONEY - Another track from Nas' Untitled album, which originally was headline for major controversary with its original name [omitted name: unsuitable for FSB].  Unfortunately for Nas, he's always set to spark controversary prior to a release of an album, but always changes the outcome due to label rights.  I guess artists just can't do their thing...
    12.    Porcupine Tree: SENTIMENTAL - UK prog band, featuring one of the most surprising drummers, Gavin Harrison.  His groove-oriented style sets new standards in prog, to in my mind, outdo most technical/chop master approaches.  This track is from their amazing Fear Of A Blank Planet - a play on Public Enemy's Fear Of A Black Planet.
    13.    Nine Inch Nails: 6 GHOSTS I - Such a surreal, beautiful track from Mr. Reznor's FREE album.  He's arguabley been the most prolific musician in pop rock for the last 2 years, releasing 6 albums (if you count the Ghosts as 4 volumes).  Now, he's taking on the entire music industry by himself, self-releasing all his music as well as providing the Radiohead trend-setting "pay what you want" idea...but taking it further. 
    14.    Camp Lo: BLACK NOSTALJACK AKA COME ON - One of the greatest hip hop duos of all-time in my mind, with backing production by Ski.  Their abilities to (w)rap around the beat and play with the rhythms is seldom seen, as well as their infatuation with the '60s theme of soul and jive.  This is off their debut/classic LP Uptown Saturday Night.
    15.    Explosions In The Sky: SO LONG, LONESOME - Saw this ambient noise producing band at the V-fest 2 years ago, and found it extraordinarily chill!  Just sit back, close your eyes, and allow the music to flow through you...
    16.    Blockhead: NYC BOUNCE - Aesop Rock's backbone and core from earlier days and recent releases...this New York producer has a unique and bumping sound, and can be recogized in an instant...so good, he was asked to join Ninja Tune, a UK based label.  Brilliant album, Uncle Tony's Coloring Book.