This is my list of the Soul Burners of the Year.  I have been exploring the various forms of how to list, in my opinion, the best music of the year.  This is rather an improbable task, and so subjective, but I find there is comfort in lists like this, because you, as a listener, may find a couple hidden gems within the lists to explore on your own, and find a new pathway in music that in some way changes your life.  This has happened to me on many occasions, including the very process of making this list.  Like last year, the opening section of 25 albums is composed of artists and their music that I feel have altered these kinds of pathways in the music industry.  Through marketing, through structure, through lyrical & musical content and context, through evolution of their prior self and sound, these are the selected few that have travelled that enlightened route in 2011 and have carried me with them – through various genres and eclecticism.  The next 25 are very worthy albums, beautiful and powerful, and should be duly noted.  The honorable mentions are nearly as sweet.  The latest additions to this list are the Top Beats for hip-hop and Top Songs.  These are yet to be fully rendered and explored, and there are many songs and beats I have surely missed, but these are the ones that have stuck for me until the end of the year (perhaps this is a section I’ll cultivate more next year, but for now remain in BETA testing version ;).  As always, thank you for your support and your listening contribution!  All the best in 2012, and of course, keep your ears peeled to the sounds brought to you by the Funky Soul Burner!

The 25 Facelifting Albums and Artists:

1.            The Weeknd HOUSE OF BALLONS / THURSDAY / ECHOES OF SILIENCE: 2011 was the year of the independent R&B electro revival futurism (oxymoronic, ain’t it? ;), in a very positive and innovative way.  At the helm, The Weeknd, or Abel Tesfaye, from Canada released 3 mixtapes filled with 9 awe-inspiring tracks spanning the year.  His sound would not be classified “R&B” if it weren’t for his vocal overlay on top of post dubstep or UK-inspired electronic groove explosions.  Like James Blake, the musical space between notes, the intricately auto-tuned vocals, in a progressive positive manner, and the stretching of the pop format make this year’s R&B the best pop music since Michael Jackson’s Thriller – and what do you know, the first track of Echoes is his cover of one of my favorite MJ tracks, “Dirty Diana.”  Inspired from Radiohead and last year’s Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Fridays, releasing free music every Friday, The Weeknd released all mixtapes as free digital downloads from his website @320kps.  Another on my list this year is Odd Future’s member, Frank Ocean, following the free music suite.  The Weeknd’s lyrics are soaked in drug-related experiences in a club-going extravaganza with equally inebriated women.  With the music and his lyrics, sometimes I feel like I’m in wormhole with the electric pulses vibrated through my eardrums, and though I can’t relate to his drug experiences, I feel he perfectly encapsulates his experiences through his beautiful music.  Top notch wicked, really, without the cheese.  Cheers, Mr. Tesfaye, for your free art, as well as joining the James Blakes and Frank Oceans of the industry, pushing the boundaries a bit further for the pop standard. 

2.            Adele 21: Although she sits at the top of all the Grammy and Billboard lists, there is no denying the fact that this women is truly something special.  She may well have been sitting on top of my list this year had I not heard “Someone Like You” blasting every single night for 6 months across the street at Bugatti’s (Italian resturaunt) at 10:30pm as I lay in bed – most times making me regret ever putting the song in one of my mixes this year.  I know, sad, but the lyrics are a bit creepy – she knows she’s going to find somebody that is exactly like somebody that she can’t get over?  Weird.  However, a decade from now, we can all look back at 2011 as being a year defined by powerful pop with an intelligent edge to it.  I truly hope that Adele keeps her pace (in a year or two, we’ll have 23, most likely, if she keeps up her pattern), steadies her creativity, her phrasing, her voice, and continues to put out quality music.  We can only wait to see what is in store for her, and I hope it is not the same path of her peer, Duffy.  With Amy Winehouse gone (R.I.P.), Duffy falling back, we can only await Estelle and Alice Russell in hopes to keep the UK throwback genre afloat.   

3.            Fleet Foxes HELPLESSNESS BLUES: There is not another rock group out there pouring out the quality in musicianship, unique and provocative narrative, and concepts as this creative bunch from the Mecca of grunge, Seattle.  But this ain’t no grunge, homeboy or homegirl!  The moment I heard “Sun Giant” off their debut EP a few years back, I crossed my fingers in hope to hear the evolving sound of this group.  They have not let me down, and in fact, they have exceeded all expectations.  This is intelligent rock, along with Wilco, Radiohead and PJ Harvey, they each stand alone atop their respective class. 

4.            El Columpio Asesino DIAMANTES: This Spanish band conjures the spirits of Pixies, Sonic Youth, The B-52’s, and of course most prominantly, their own innovative sound.  “On The Floor,” which is the opener to Podcast #80 People Loooovvve the End of the World, is in my top 5 best songs of the year.  Rock and Indie music has taken a sour turn towards cheese, same ol’, and a rather bland sound, and even though there are definite influences, El Columpio Asesino pushes their music ahead of the cookie-cutter tunes of the 2000’s.  This is 2011, moving into the New Year, a new wave of rock and indie music must be bestowed.  Let us hope they continue to push the sounds onward. 

5.            Shabazz Palaces BLACK UP: Nobody does hip hop like Palaceer Lazaro, rather Ishmael Butler, better known to the world as Butterfly from Digable Planets.  Back in the days when hip hop music was in its prime, better described as the Golden Years, Digable Planets brought jazz influences into an everyday street view of New York City.  Like Guru and Gangstarr told stories from the corner, Digable brought the view from the other side of the street, always swaying from the rest of the pack.  Now, Mr. Butler has moved to the other side of the country and over the last decade has morphed his sound and style in a 180-degree direction from before.  I honestly do not know of another hip hop artist that has transmigrated into a different self, in such a positive and influential way, as that once Butterfly turned Palaceer.  Butterfly didn’t arrive here easily, after failing miserably with the cocaine-based sound of Cherry Wine.  Black Up has been described by some critics as the ‘Kid A of hip hop,’ challenging its listeners and their peers to up the game a bit, to innovate more, and push the boundaries of electronica sounds mixed with wordsmith rap arrangements.  Like one of their song title suggests, “The King’s New Clothes Were Made By His Own Hands,” Palaceer and instrumentalist, Tendai Maraire, have changed the face of hip hop…again. 

6.            AfroCubism AFROCUBISM (November 2010): This album missed out on the tops of 2010 due to its later release, but it must not go unmentioned.  This is another groundbreaking record from Cuba, but this time including the brilliant sounds from Mali.  Toumani Diabate on kora, Bassekou Kouyate on ngoni, singer Kasse Mady Diate, and legendary guitarist Djelimady Tounkara join a cast from this powerhouse of a musical country in West Africa along with Cuban guitarist and singer Eliades Ochoa and his AfroCuban band.  If you thought Buena Vista Social Club was brilliant, then you’ll equally be as pleased with this underappreciated but most beautiful record.  This is a must in your music collection, period.

7.            Talvin Singh & Niladri Kumar TOGETHER:  Finally!  Talvin as resurfaced, and boy, did he ever!  This go-around hooking up with avant-garde sitar(funk) specialist Niladri Kumar.  Talvin has up’ed his tabla-playing game on this one, bringing it more to forefront of the record, and has innovatively woven electronica sounds into the overall production of this record, but stays within the boundaries of classical Indian music.  This album certainly slipped under the radar (nobody even updated Wikipedia as of December 2011), but Talvin is leagues above most electronica producers out there, and his subtle yet effective tactics on this amazingly wicked album will be studied and copied in the years to come – as with all of his work.  The sounds you will hear will be pleasing to your ears, making this incredibly sophisticated music seem effortless.

8.            James Blake JAMES BLAKE:  Dubstep, some say triphop, but if there’s anybody that is putting more definition on the differences, it is James Blake.  After a few released EPs, this British electronica producer / singer-songwriter released this self-titled album in early 2011, and shook all its listeners.  This album has transcended the meta-genre of electronica music like Radiohead’s OK Computer and is reaching wide-acclaim in all music critics’ opinions.  This does not happen frequently.  Mr. Blake masters the sluggish tempos like nobody’s business, tastefully implements auto-tune (the dude can sing, no doubt), and even covers the like of Feist here. 

9.            CYNE THE WASTELAND VOL. 1: KILLMORE: A very late addition to the TOP 10 (expanding the list to Top 11 for 2011 ;) this year, knocking Blu from the number 9 spot (no offense, Blu).  CYNE, or Cultivating Your New Experiences, dropped this bombshell of a record late into the year with a book-like approach to the music. The album is only 6 songs long, but each track nears or breaches the 10-minute mark with lyrical mastery encompassing the first few minutes of each chapter leaving the remaining sum to an array of amazing beat and instrumental production.  The instrumental portion of this album, alone, is the best beat record since J Dilla’s Donuts, but not in the same vein.  This is not your ordinary hip-hop album, and CYNE, a group from Gainesville, Florida with MCs Akin and Cise Star and producers Speck and Enoch, experiment with this format on the risk of losing many of their longtime fans.  Many ‘heads’ will think they’ve been shorted due to the lack of lyrics and rhymes in this album, but it’s a musical journey in songbook form that takes much more musical and group thought than the regular format of 3 minute looped beats with hooks and verses laid on top.  The ‘book’ is based on the life of a cyborg-like killing machine with laser teeth for mass annihilation.  CYNE are pushing their creativity and art form, and the result is nothing less than mesmerizing hip-hop, which is severely lacking these days.  Along with Shabazz Palaces, this is the kind of music pushing a genre into new dark and beautiful territory, shedding new light in an area of music that feels a bit too comfortable inside a 3-minute structured box.

10.          PJ Harvey LET ENGLAND SHAKE:  Polly Jean has certainly struck again, this time not only shaking England, but the entire music industry.  There’s not another musician in the world that morphs his or her sound successfully record-to-record as PJ does.  This Mercury Prize winning effort (for the second time in her career) integrates the autoharp (yeah, remember this from grade school?) along with crazy old samples and stories from her perspective in England on war, on history, on life, and anything she can conjure up to musically crack the core of earth. 

11.          Blu HER FAVORITE COLO(U)R / NoYork!:  One of the most prolific underground producer / rappers of today, who was twice featured on The Roots’ How I Got Over record, has released nearly 10 LPs, numerous EPs, and countless guest appearances in a four-year period.  He easily releases new music every season of the year, and each bringing new styles and sounds to the table.  One of these sounds that this Los Angeles based phenom has introduced to us is Her Favorite Colo(u)r, which was originally released as a mixtape for free late 2009/10.  Nature Sounds picked up the record and released it for the masses in 2011.  NoYork! was a mixtape released in the fall, changing Blu’s hue, confusing his listeners, but pushing his creativity further than any other underground artist this year.  From rapping over Billie Holiday snippets to free jazz mayhem and video game snapshots spliced with DNTEL-like electronic gangsta beats in NoYork!

12.          Tune-Yards W H O K I L L  

13.          AraabMUZIK ELECTRONIC DREAM (aka, the MPC drum machine master!  This man is no joke – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts_5mset9Js)

14.          Beans END IT ALL / Matthew Shipp feat. Beans, Hprizm & William Parker KNIVES FROM HEAVEN

15.          Le Trio Joubran AS FâR

16.          Radiohead KING OF LIMBS

17.          Anna Calvi ANNA CALVI

18.          Cunninlynguists ONEIROLOGY

19.          The Kills  BLOOD PRESSURES

20.          Motopony  MOTOPONY

21.          Wilco THE WHOLE LOVE

22.          Bon Iver  BON IVER

23.          Nicholas Jaar SPACE IS ONLY NOISE

24.          Frank Ocean NOSTALGIA / ULTRA

25.          The Roots UNDUN

25 More Recommended Albums of 2011:

26.          La Vida Boheme NUESTRA

27.          Raphael Saadiq STONE ROLLIN’

28.          Lykke Li WOUNDED RHYMES

29.          Siriusmo MOSAIK

30.          Tinariwen TASSILI

31.          Apparat THE DEVIL’S WALK

32.          Cass McCombs WIT’S END / THE HUMOR RISK

33.          Jay Z & Kanye West WATCH THE THRONE

34.          The Antlers BURST APART

35.          Eric Bobo & Latin Bitman WELCOME TO THE RITMO MACHINE

36.          Everything Everything MAN ALIVE 

37.          Ghostface Killah APOLLO KIDS (DECEMBER 2010)

38.          Gillian Welch THE HARROW & THE HARVEST

39.          Metronomy THE ENGLISH RIVIERIA

40.          DJ Quik THE BOOK OF DAVID

41.          Allen Stone ALLEN STONE 

42.          Ghostpoet PEANUT BUTTER BLUES AND MELANCHOLY JAM

43.          Rival Schools PEDALS 

44.          Jamie Woon MIRRORWRITING 

45.          Wu Lyf GO TELL FIRE TO THE MOUNTAIN

46.          Bright Eyes THE PEOPLE’S KEY

47.          Modeselektor MONKEYTOWN

48.          Red Hot Chili Peppers I’M HERE 

49           Freestyle Fellowship THE PROMISE

50.          Curren$y WEEKEND AT BURNIES

HONORABLE MENTION: Common THE BELIEVER / DREAMER, Peedi Crakk CRAKK FILES, VOL. IV (MIXTAPE), Goapele BREAK OF DAWN, Jill Scott THE LIGHT OF THE SUN, Death Cab for Cutie CODES & KEYS, My Morning Jacket CIRCUITAL, Destroyer KAPUTT, Battles GLOSS DROP, TV On The Radio NINE TYPES OF LIGHT, The Dear Hunter BLACK EP, Tom Waits BAD AS ME, Kate Bush 50 WORDS FOR SNOW

HIP-HOP BEATS [BETA TESTING] (new section inspired by Pete Rock’s sick beat of 2010 for Kanye West & Jay-Z on “The Joy”):

     1.     CYNE “Chapter 1: Enter Killmore” (SPECK / ENOCH) – the drum grooves alone in this first collection of beats as a song is better than 90% of all hip-hop records in the last 10 years.                                  

     2.     The Weeknd “Glass Table Girls” (ABEL TESFAYE)

     3.      Shabazz Palaces “Swerve…The Reeping of All That Is Worthwhile (Noir Not Withstanding)” (S.P.)

     4.     Blu “Amnesia” (BLU)

     5.     Jay-Z & Kanye West “Murder to Excellence” (KANYE WEST)

     6.     DJ Quik “Fire and Brimstone” / “Hydromatic” (QUIK)

     7.     AraabMUZIK “Free Spirit” (ARAABMUZIK)

     8.     Common feat. Nas “Ghetto Dreams” (NO ID)

     9.     Ghostface Killah “Black Tequila” (FRANK DUKES)

    10.  Freestyle Fellowship “We Are” (ELIGH)

    11.  Jill Scott “Some Other Time” (SCOTT / KHARI MATEEN)

    12.  Curren$y “This Is the Life” (MONSTA BEATZ)

    13.  The Roots “I Remember” (?UEST LOVE)

    14.   Nas “Nasty” (SALAAM REMI)

    15.  Zion I & Grouch feat. Silk E “Rockit Man” (AMP LIVE)

    16.  tUnE-yArDs “Gangsta” (TUNE-YARDS)

SONGS [BETA TESTING] (Songs mentioned in Hip Hop Beats section are omitted, since my section of hip hop beats means that the rapping must be top notch – hey if the producer put something hot out, the least the lyricist can do is step up to the plate!)

     1.     Wilco “The Art of Almost”    

     2.     El Columpio Asesino “On the Floor”                       

     3.     Fleet Foxes “The Shrine of an Argument”

     4.  Kurt Vile "My Baby's Arms"

     5.      PJ Harvey “The Words That Maketh Murder”

     6.     AfroCubism “Nima Diyala” (Late 2010)

     7.     Azaelia Banks feat. Lazy Jay “212” (although a hip-hop track, not in the other section due to the nature of the beat, which was not originally composed for her lyrics.  Lazy Jay originally dropped the instrumental as 12” single).

     8.     La Vida Boheme “El Sentimiento Muerto”

     9.     Raphael Saadiq “Good Man”

   10.     Rival Schools “Wring It Out”

   11.  Antlers “Parentheses”

   12.  Anna Calvi “Morning Light”

   13.  Lykke Li “I Know Places”

   14.  Gillian Welch “The Way It Goes”

   15.   Radiohead “The Butcher”

   16.   Peedi Crakk feat. Chinko Da Great “Sucka Free Sunday” (another hip-hop track, but all beats are from the old school, and are a part of a mixtape release – not full LP release.   Reminds me of Ice Cube’s “Jackin’ For Beats” back in the day off the Kill at Will album)

   17.   Wu Lyf “Heavy Pop”

PODCAST #80 People Loooovvve the End of the World

This is the Funky Soul Burner's New Year's mix for end of the year 2011, beginning 2012.  The inspiration for the mix comes from the ideas from anxious people that the world is ending - many of them believing that next year around this time, the ancient Mayan prophecy will doom us all.  Apparently it's the end-date of a 5,125-year-long cycle, but my unique ability and unfathomable skills of translating the Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel tells me that when the sky collapses and trees raise up, we'll all be flailing our arms and dancing around like jungle birds in a mating ritual to none other than a…get this…a FUNKY SOUL BURNER podcast this time next year!  Sweet!  Anyway, here's to fire and brimstone, hell and high-water, the second coming (oops, that's a different interpretation of another religious text.  My bad ;), and to December 22, 2012, the day after it all comes crashing down.  The Funky Soul Burner will be waiting on the other side - I mean, I certainly chose the proper name for myself, right? - compiling more music for the year 2013.  Happy 2012, and let's keep it positive, and perhaps the end of one cycle lends itself to the beginning of another 5,125 years!  Cheers!

1. (0:00:36) El Columpio Asesino ON THE FLOOR

2. (0:03:14) La Vida Boheme EL SENTIMIENTO HA MUERTO

3. (0:06:46) Krazy Baldhead 1ST MOVEMENT, PT. 4

4. (0:09:12) Krazy Baldhead feat. Tes 2ND MOVEMENT, PT. 3

5. (0:10:34) Lee 'Scratch' Perry SPONGY RUBBER DUB DUBMASTER (DIALECT & KOSINE REMIX)

6. (0:16:07) Tom Waits BAD AS ME

7. (0:19:12) Raphael Saadiq GOOD MAN

8. (0:22:48) As Tall As Lions WE'S BEEN WAITIN'

9. (0:26:25) Freestyle Fellowship GOVERNMENT LIES

10. (0:27:47) Ghostface Killah feat. Busta Rhymes SUPERSTAR

11. (0:30:47) Eric Bobo & Latin Bitman feat. Chali 2na WITNESS THIS HEAT

12. (0:33:39) Afrocubism NIMA DIYALA

13. (0:37:09) CYNE chapter 1: enter killmore

14. (0:38:27) The Weeknd MONTREAL

15. (0:42:35) Le Trio Joubran NAWWâR

16. (0:47:07) Balam Acab SEE BIRDS MOONS

17. (0:50:34) Curren$y THIS IS THE LIFE

18. (0:54:26) Talvin Singh & Niladri Kumar ANANTA

19. (0:59:02) Idrissa Soumaoro SAFI 

PODCAST #79 The Fountain Glitch

Friends,

The latest mix, The Fountain Glitch, was conceived after my initial encounter with the opening track by Russian-born electronica producer, CoH (apparently pronounced, 'son,' by means of Cyrillic and Latin alphabets).  My buddy, Irek, was blasting it through his speakers at our arthouse and I immediately went to his iPod to check out the artist and song title.  The record seamlessly moves through rhythm with a hint of melody lurking behind the static, which to me embodies the idea of 'glitch.'  

The fountain is in essence the Funky Soul Burner, here.  I often wonder, "Am I doing enough with each mix?  Do I really offer anything new?  Is there any creativity involved with it?  Or am I just making variations on themes with a limited range in taste of music?"  I wrestle with these thoughts often in my work, as an artist / business owner and in this very hobby of making mixes.  With these thoughts, I kept arriving at the idea and vision of a fountain.  

A marble or stone fixture with an exact container of water.  The water spurts at the top, full of force, inertia, freedom, wanting to be something new and different.  But that hope, if water were to actually 'hope' or 'want,' ultimately ends back in the contained pool below with like form.  The water has arguably changed, but remains as the same substance with the same 'ambition' or 'desire' to be shot out through the top again, free & hopeful.  

A bit existential, I know, but that's where the glitch is:  the ripple effect, the change, a similar wave or molecule, but different; the feeling of new while embodying the same form.  There's a comfort in that feeling of being a molecule, of a form, of a finite entity.  There's still creation in its limitations, and that's a good thing.

So, here is the latest mix, and I hope it serves you well and brings you your glitch, your fountain, whatever container you find your comfort in, your peace.

Wish you well in your holiday,

jeff

1. (0:00:16) CoH ANNUM PER ANNUM (PART 2)
2. (0:05:50) Tortoise ALMOST ALWAYS NEARLY ENOUGH 
3. (0:08:28) Shankar accompanied by Zakir Hussain & Vikku Vinayakram RAGA ABERI 
4. (0:13:58) Goapele MONEY 
5. (0:17:50) Fat Freddy's Drop FLASHBACK (JAZZANOVA'S MASHED BAG MIX) 
6. (0:21:31) Casual feat. Del the Funky Homosapien DELTRON Z MEETS RAPGOD 
7. (0:23:49) Metronomy THE BAY 
8. (0:28:31) Spektrum I'VE DONE IT NOW (LAYO & BUSHWACKA REMIX) 
9. (0:35:22) MKTRKRFT easy love 
10. (0:40:50) The Chemical Brothers BAHNHOF RUMBLE 
11. (0:43:10) Trans Am 4,738 REGRETS 
12. (0:46:54) Atlas Sound WASHINGTON SCHOOL  
13. (0:50:10) Yuck SUICIDE POLICEMAN 
14. (0:53:20) Paper Tiger FREEZER 
15. (0:58:38) Dub Trio ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS 
16. (1:02:20) Cayetano LIKE A FOOL 
17. (1:04:31) Ojos de Brujo feat. Miguel Campello de Elbicho SULTANAS DE MERAILLO 
18. (1:08:25) Cunninlynguists MY HABIT (I HAVEN'T CHANGED) 
19. (1:10:26) Johnny Cash AIN'T NO GRAVE 

PODCAST #78 Exit 72A

This podcast is dedicated to the drives north towards the Catskills, escaping city life watching the concrete sun-blocking sky'rapers turn to dirt and trees.  This is for that ethereal escape...

1. (0:00:14) Sebastian The Crab HOW - About a month ago, my wife and I were coming through the Canal Street stop on the N train and I heard a loud distorted synth that sounded like it was plugged through an old British Invasion amp.  The sound was so thick and melodic that it filled the passageway and down through each of the subway tunnels - probably echoed over the bridge to Brooklyn for all I know.  It was fantastic!  I hadn't heard much beautiful electronic music being played in the subway in 12 years that channeled the wonders of Kieran Hebden (Four Tet, see next track remix) and company's melody.  I was shocked that I was hearing it in the subway, truly, and apparently, so was my wife.  We listened for a minute, threw in a buck, but had to get somewhere.  I know we didn't stay long, wherever we were going, because on our way back, we had a chance to catch him again.  This time I grabbed his card and couldn't wait to go home and see if he had put any goodies on his website.  Luckily for me (and you, too) he had a whole EP to download called HOW DOES IT FEEL (http://sebastianthecrab.bandcamp.com/).  I needed to email him to thank him for providing such a memorable performance that evening in and out of the subway passages.  I wrote him wanting to use his music, specifically this track HOW, in a podcast, which he so humbly and graciously permitted, and he responded with an insight into the song, "When I titled that song 'How', I was thinking philosophically of the idea of a modus operandi, a plan of action, "How are we/am I going to do this?"  Please check out his music on his site, listen to catch a glimpse of his M.O., and support talented independent creators alike (http://sebastianthecrabmusic.tumblr.com/biography).
2. (0:06:36) The Acorn RESTORATION (FOUR TET REMIX)
3. (0:11:49) Brigitte MA BENZ
4. (0:15:52) Bomb The Bass feat. Mark Lanegan BLACK RIVER (GUI BORATTO REMIX)
5. (0:22:31) Yppah CANNOT SEE STRAIGHT
6. (0:25:47) Emancipator EVE
7. (0:30:20) Pnuma Trio MISERY LOVES COMPANY
8. (0:32:44) Cliff Martinez RUBBER HEAD
9. (0:35:20) Sound Tribe Sector9 (STS9) THE LAST 50,000 YEARS
10. (0:37:36) DJ Shadow REDEEMED
11. (0:41:50) Busdriver NO BLACKS, NO JEWS, NO ASIANS
12. (0:43:41) Caribou HANNIBAL
13. (0:49:38) Bonobo BLACK SANDS
14. (0:55:56) Bon Iver HOLOCENE
15. (1:01:19) Cee-Lo SOMETIMES
16. (1:06:21) Anna Calvi RIDER TO THE SEA
17. (1:08:50) The Weeknd ROLLING STONE
18. (1:12:39) Puscifer feat. Carina Round TUMBLEWEED

PODCAST #77 WHO CARES?

TRANSMIGRATE THROUGH INNOVATION, DESIGN & LEGACY Steve Jobs

The weather's changing...

A fiscal financial occupation today, with an intention to blow down a Wall with a mouth-breeze, a riot-wind, a sneaker-quake, a 99%-footbill-but-cannot-cross-the-Street storm.

I see the next president...far into tomorrow...dripping from a corporate fracking fund, campaigning his Xbox controlling drone strike, healthcare earthmover pushing glacier freshness into a Starbucks cappuccino machine.

Who cares, right?  Funky Soul Burner heats your eardrums and makes your rump wiggle - little pinky toe thump, pacemaker jiggle.  Podcast #77 Who Cares?

1. (0:00:14) Blue Scholars AHI RIDDIM (BANANAS REMIX)
2. (0:02:12) Everything Everything MZ KZ, UR BF 
3. (0:05:40) Siriusmo GOLDENE KUGEL
4. (0:10:30) Doom feat. SUPERVILLIANZ
5. (0:13:05) Azealiz Banks 212
6. (0:16:24) Mr. Oizo feat. Uffie STERIODS (OG MIX) 
7. (0:18:59) Phantogram TURN IT OFF 
8. (0:22:43) Free Moral Agents SIX DEGREES (COAXIAL REMIX) 
9. (0:27:24) Quadron JEANS 
10. (0:30:09) Outkast WHEELZ OF STEEL 
11. (0:33:50) Mutemath feat. Rebirth Brass Band ARMISTICE (2nd LINE VERSION) 
12. (0:35:43) Antlers PARENTHESES 
13. (0:39:14) Gonjasufi CANDYLANE 
14. (0:42:16) GRiZ better than i've ever been 
15. (0:48:55) Ghostface Killah feat. Cappadona & Trife BLACK TEQUILA 
16. (0:52:33) Micatone NOMAD
17. (0:58:20) PVT timeless 
18. (1:03:33) Wilco ART OF ALMOST 

PODCAST #76 Just In Case You Need To Fall…

1. (0:00:02) René S. Sahir ES LILIN (GUITAR SOLO)
2. (0:02:25) Freestyle Fellowship WE ARE
3. (0:04:47) Cut Chemist METRORAIL THRU SPACE
4. (0:08:38) Boom Bip SNOOK ADIS
5. (0:12:32) Forss FLICKERMOOD
6. (0:13:22) Lorn NONE AN ISLAND
7. (0:17:13) Flox THE WORDS
8. (0:21:37) Del The Funky Homosapien I GOT WHAT U NEED
9. (0:24:29) Unkle ABLIVION
10. (0:28:43) College DESIRE
11. (0:31:58) Gayngs THE BEATDOWN
12. (0:34:46) Cake FRANK SINATRA
13. (0:38:24) Little Dragon RITUAL UNION
14. (0:41:46) Solilaquists of Sound PROPERTY & LIQUOR
15. (0:44:49) Mew VACCINE
16. (0::49:12) Jamie Woon MIDDLE
17. (0:53:42) Little Barrie THINKING ON THE MIND
18. (0:57:00) Two Lone Swordsmen WE LOVE MUTRONICS (KEITH BOY REMIX)

PODCAST #75 A Vacuum Knows No Space, But Sound

tumble the world inside and out - floss the pine cones, torment the clouds - shimmy on space suit, buckle waist belt - lift off in zero gravity to nowhere - a vacuum knows no space, but sound (this is no ordinary world...)

1. (0:00:02) J.S Bach via Paula Robinson PARTITA FOR SOLO FLUTE IN A MINOR 
2. (0:00:54) Anna Calvi MORNING LIGHT 
3. (0:05:00) Tinariwen feat. Tunde Adebimpe & Kyp Malone TENERE TAQQIM TOSSAM 
4. (0:08:55) Ghostpoet feat. Fabiana Palladino SURVIVE IT 
5. (0:13:06) Everything Everything FINAL FORM
6. (0:18:28) Gotye feat. Kimbra SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW
7. (0:22:13) Ana Tijoux 1977
8. (0:25:42) Corinne Bailey Rae FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME
9. (0:28:48) Siriusmo DAS GEHEIMNIS 
10. (0:31:32) Apparat KING OF CLUBS
11. (0:35:57) Jamie Woon LADY LUCK
12. (0:39:49) Jay Z & Kanye West MURDER TO EXCELLENCE
13. (0:44:34) Oh Land ALIVE / AWAKE
14. (0:48:01) Radiohead THE BUTCHER
15. (0:52:27) Metronomy SHE WANTS
16. (0:56:07) Micatone feat. Ear AKA Demba Nabe TROUBLE BOY
17. (1:00:10) Eva Be feat. Pegah Ferydoni INTO MY BLUES 
18. (1:05:00) Jimi Hendrix mashed with Skream ASTRO BOY / DUTCH FLOWERZ

PODCAST #74 Electric Pattern Potency

1. (0:00:20) Birdy Nam Nam THE PARACHUTE ENDING
2. (0:05:40) Little Dragon BLINKING PIGS
3. (0:09:15) The Kills TAPE SONG
4. (0:12:48) Lykke Li GET SOME
5. (0:16:05) Groove Armada HISTORY
6. (0:19:33) Lorn GREAT SILIENCE
7. (0:21:55) tUnE-yArDs BIZNESS
8. (0:26:08) Spoon WHO MAKES YOUR MONEY
9. (0:29:28) Mux Mool MORNING STRUT
10. (0:32:46) Jel NO SOLUTION
11. (0:35:50) Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip FIVE MINUTES
12. (0:39:16) Bibio EXCUSES
13. (0:43:16) Shabazz Palaces SWERVE…THE REEPING OF ALL THAT
14. (0:47:00) Mark Guiliana THAT GIRL IN STOCKHOLM
15. (0:52:30) Feist HOW COME YOU NEVER GO THERE
16. (0:55:51) Sene & Blu EYESDRY: THEREAFTER
17. (0:58:23) Lake Trout SOUNDS FROM BELOW
18. (1:02:28) Bjork CRYSTALLINE
19. (1:07:28) The Weeknd LONELY STAR

PODCAST #73 Acoustic Interludes Tremble the Blur

            *** Rest In Peace, Amy Winehouse ***

1. (0:00:20) Lady Gaga THE EDGE OF GLORY (LIVE) 
2. (0:04:39) Paris THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
3. (0:08:37) ††† (Crosses) BERMUDA LOCKE† - new witch project/EP by Deftones frontman, Chino Moreno.
4. (0:12:04) Portugal. The Man CRYSTAL MAGIC 
5. (0:13:27) Portugal. The Man GUNS & DOGS 
6. (0:16:04) The Dear Hunter FILTH AND SQUALOR 
7. (0:20:02) Frank Ocean SONGS FOR WOMEN 
8. (0:24:11) Cayetano WHICH COLOR YOU LIKE 
9. (0:28:32) Amy Winehouse LOVE IS A LOSING GAME (ORIGINAL VERSION) - we lost another talented musician at the age of 27.  Sadness is all.
10. (0:32:01) Loopa Scava meets Cayetano feat. Pelina UP & DOWN 
11. (0:35:20) Black Sheep FOREVER LUVLEE 
12. (0:37:52) Pantha du Prince BEHIND THE STARS  
13. (0:44:32) Egotronic feat. Walter Schreifels KOTZEN 
14. (0:47:42) Adele SOMEONE LIKE YOU 
15. (0:52:04) Antlers I DON'T WANT LOVE 
16. (0:55:02) WU LYF heavy pop (album version)
17. (1:00:31) Intelligent Hoodlum GRAND GROOVE

PODCAST #72 Circa 1989

1. (0:00:36) Hedningarna OLD SARNA WEDDING MARCH
2. (0:04:24) Neil Young DON'T CRY
3. (0:08:18) Nine Inch Nails TERRIBLE LIE
4. (0:12:46) Beastie Boys THE SOUNDS OF SCIENCE
5. (0:15:54) Pixies HEY
6. (0:19:22) The Cure LULLABY
7. (0:23:26) Red Hot Chili Peppers PRETTY LITTLE DITTY
8. (0:26:28) Nirvana ABOUT A GIRL
9. (0:29:03) Fugazi PROMISES
10. (0:33:01) The Stone Roses FOOLS GOLD
11. (0:36:52) EPMD get the bozack
12. (0:40:43) Tracy Chapman CROSSROADS
13. (0:44:51) De La Soul feat. Jungle Brothers & Q-Tip BUDDY
14. (0:49:25) Doug Lazy LET IT ROLL (INSTRUMENTAL)
15. (0:55:31) Soundgarden HANDS ALL OVER

PODCAST #71 Curdled Milk on Caviar

1. (0:00:10) Rival Schools WRING IT OUT
2. (0:03:40) Birdy Nam Nam SPACE CADET APOLOGY
3. (0:08:36) Simon Resoul feat. Kormac ENTRE
4. (0:11:50) Nas NASTY
5. (0:14:51) Mount Kimbie BEFORE I MOVE OFF
6. (0:18:46) Shabazz Palaces ARE YOU...CAN YOU...WERE YOU? (FELT) - quick note, this group features Digable Planets rapper, Ishmael 'Butterfly' Butler who now goes by Palaceer Lazaro.
7. (0:23:08) Son House EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS
8. (0:26:45) Gillian Welch feat. David Rawlings THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES
9. (0:30:33) Death Cab for Cutie ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL
10. (0:34:55) Bon Iver MINNESOTA, WI
11. (0:38:30) Nicolas Jaar KEEP ME THERE
12. (0:43:48) Jill Scott SOME OTHER TIME
13. (0:46:00) Typhoon BELLY OF THE CAVERN
14. (0:53:05) DJ Quik feat. Jon B & Gift HYDROMATIC
15. (0:56:01) Joyce NOME DE GUERRA
16. (0:59:28) Cunninlynguists feat. Tonedeff ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS
17. (1:03:23) The Kills BABY SAYS

PODCAST #70 Mr. Melancholy Likes to Blow Bubbles, Too!

    1.    (0:00:09) Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings MAMA DON'T LIKE MY MAN
    2.    (0:02:35) Martina Topley-Bird BABY BLUE
    3.    (0:05:07) Lightspeed Champion THERE'S NOTHING UNDERWATER
    4.    (0:09:28) Tosca MY FIRST
    5.    (0:14:35) Frank Ocean WE ALL TRY
    6.    (0:17:16) Blu feat. Billy Holiday AMNESIA
    7.    (0:20:08) Chinese Man feat. Bionic Man Sound WASHINGTON SQUARE
    8.    (0:24:06) Blockhead SQUIRMY WORM
    9.    (0:28:10) DJ Shadow YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN
    10.    (0:34:43) Curren$y feat. Stalley ADDRESS
    11.    (0:37:35) Jason Edwards HOLY DOOM
    12.    (0:41:00) The Black Keys TEN CENT PISTOL
    13.    (0:45:24) Mos Def feat. Talib Kweli HISTORY
    14.    (0:47:42) Bonnie Raitt feat. Ben Harper WELL, WELL, WELL
    15.    (0:51:21) Motopony KING OF DIAMONDS
    16.    (0:54:03) Parov Stelar THE MOJO RADIO GANG (RADIO VERSION)
    17.    (0:56:36) rjd2 GOOD TIMES ROLL (PART 2)

PODCAST #69 Before The Blackbird Reveals the Light

Doors are open but the windows are closed to the wings that flutter inward without an exit.  The blackbird will reveal the light, open beak, under feather, through and through evaporate the dew accumulation from grass and leaves.  Dancing to the cadence of the candle lit flame, you'll rise again before the dawn peaks; another time, another world, blackbird, please, won't you come? 

    1.    (0:00:35) James Blake LINDISFARNE I
    2.    (0:03:15) James Blake LINDISFARNE Ii
    3.    (0:06:12) The Weeknd HIGH FOR THIS
    4.    (0:09:33) My Morning Jacket TOUCH ME I'M GOING TO SCREAM, PT. 2
    5.    (0:16:10) Menomena OH PRETTY BOY, YOU'RE SUCH A BIG BOY
    6.    (0:21:18) Wild Beasts LION'S SHARE
    7.    (0:25:11) Local Natives SUN HANDS
    8.    (0:29:49) tUnE-yArDs GANGSTA
    9.    (0:33:13) Ganygs NO SWEAT
    10.    (0:37:10) Moby VICTORIA LUCAS
    11.    (0:42:21) Amon Tobin LOST & FOUND
    12.    (0:45:27) K'naan MY OLD HOME
    13.    (0:48:33) The Heavy SHORT CHANGE HERO
    14.    (0:53:50) Saigon feat. Black Thought TOO LONG
    15.    (0:57:47) Andrey Triana DRAW THE STARS
    16.    (1:01:43) The Beatles BLACKBIRD

PODCAST #68 Village I Pass, Their Souls To Take

    1.    (0:00:13) Jill Scott LET IT BE
    2.    (0:02:02) Jill Scott RIGHTNESS
    3.    (0:05:32) Shuggie Otis AHT UH MI HED
    4.    (0:09:35) Beastie Boys DON'T PLAY A GAME I CAN'T WIN
    5.    (0:13:38) Raphael Saadiq DAY DREAMS
    6.    (0:16:46) Pivot I MAY BE GONE FOR SOME TIME
    7.    (0:20:07) Yppah IT'S NOT THE SAME
    8.    (0:22:55) Motopony GOD DAMN ME
    9.    (0:27:53) Kanye West feat. Bon Iver LOST IN THE WORLD
    10.    (0:32:12) Layo & Bushwacka! SAHARA
    11.    (0:32:46) Dream TAKE CARE OF ME
    12.    (0:38:20) The Herbaliser GEDDIM!!
    13.    (0:43:18) Florence + The Machine DOG DAYS ARE OVER
    14.    (0:47:27) PJ Harvey GLORIOUS LAND
    15.    (0:50:48) Duffy LOVESTRUCK
    16.    (0:53:38) Sven Van Hees TSUNAMI (INSIDE MY SOUL)
    17.    (0:58:00) Fleet Foxes THE SHRINE / AN ARGUMENT

PODCAST #67 Drought

1. (0:00:09) Lykke Li I KNOW PLACES
2. (0:03:45) Massive Attack feat. Tunde Adebimbe PRAY FOR RAIN
3. (0:10:16) Cunninlynguists feat. Club Dub MEXICO
4. (0:14:13) The Weeknd HOUSE OF BALLOONS / GLASS TABLE GIRLS
5. (0:20:49) Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi feat. Jack White TWO AGAINST ONE
6. (0:23:02) Finley Quaye SUPREME I PREME
7. (0:27:13) C.L. Smooth I CAN'T HELP IT
8. (0:30:30) Go! Team THE RUNNING RANGE
9. (0:34:13) Mary J. Blige WORK THAT
10. (0:37:37) The Coup FAT CATS, BIGGA FISH
11. (0:43:24) Flying Lotus RECOILED
12. (0:45:09) Adele HE WON'T GO
13. (0:49:24) Jamiroquai SHE'S A FAST PERSUADER
14. (0:54:17) Lura TABANKA
15. (0:58:29) Robert Plant SATAN YOUR KINGDOM MUST COME DOWN
16. (1:02:32) Sonic Youth CREME BRULEE

To all the individuals standing up for their beliefs, their rights, and their freedom, and to those that have lost everything, lost pets, people, and memories by the natural wonders of our planet, this podcast represents the time and space I, personally, occupied and felt in the given moment in response.  A mix of light and dark, hopping, loving and filled with promise.  My thoughts are with you.

Podcast #66 Uprisings & Earthquakes

1. (0:00:10) Cody Chesnutt FIVE ON A JOYRIDE
2. (0:03:35) Black Sheep FOR THE RECORD
3. (0:06:47) Menomena TITHE
4. (0:11:39) Elbow WITH LOVE
5. (0:14:49) Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana STAY THE SAME
6. (0:19:28) Caribou JAMELIA
7. (0:22:47) Themselves THE MARK
8. (0:26:58) Destroyer CHINATOWN
9. (0:30:42) Mumford & Sons ROLL AWAY YOUR STONE
10. (0:34:49) Bon Iver FLUME
11. (0:38:02) Cirkus EVERY DAY LIFE
12. (0:44:54) Citizen Cope A FATHER'S SON
13. (0:48:47) TV on the Radio WILL DO
14. (0:52:28) Busdriver MOON BOOTS
15. (0:55:08) Burial & Four Tet MOTH
16. (1:03:21) Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie XX NEW HERE

PODCAST #65 Keepsake For Mundane Distractions

1. (0:00:04) Bright Eyes FIREWALL
2. (0:07:06) Seefeel WHEN FACE WAS FACE
3. (0:12:44) Radiohead MR. MAGPIE
4. (0:16:53) Curren$y feat. Mos Def BREAKFAST
5. (0:19:15) The RZA AFRO THEME
6. (0:19:43) Brian Eno DUST SHUFFLE
7. (0:21:25) Alice Russell HURRY ON NOW (EMIKA REMIX)
8. (0:27:20) James Blake LIMIT TO YOUR LOVE (FEIST)
9. (0:31:00) Humble the Poet feat. Mandeep Sethi & Ras Ceylon GUTTER
10. (0:33:43) Jose Gonzales TO SEND SOMEONE AWAY
11. (0:36:25) Slug & Murs DIRTY GIRL
12. (0:40:02) Raphael Saadiq BIG EASY
13. (0:43:09) MF Doom HERBS & SPICES BEAT 10
14. (0:47:39) Finley Quaye MAVERICK A STRIKE
15. (0:52:33) Little Barrie YEAH WE KNOW YOU
16. (0:55:14) PJ Harvey LAST LIVING ROSE
17. (0:57:27) Florence and the Machine MY BOY BUILDS COFFINS