For The Infinite Pursuit Of Solace

Intentions are so clear and simplified when comfort is present, and the comforting effort sought by one's intentions cannot be clear if the present is not so simple to understand.  The Funky Soul Burner's 47th podcast continues its pursuit to bring you that comfort in the audible clarity, simplicity, in all its present forms.  Thank you for your humbling support.  I present to you my good friends Hawk & Dove and their wonderful music.  Please support them on both Facebook and Myspace and be a part of their continuing wave of success and beautiful expansion.

Podcast #47 For The Infinite Pursuit Of Solace

    1.    (0:00:37) Hawk & Dove MUSCLE BREAKS (LIVE) - Singer-songwriter, Elijah Miller, and his wonderful backing band produces some of the most intense, heart-wrenching, powerful, and electrifying country-indie-rock music I've heard since Wilco and Conor Oberst.  The lyrics and complimentary vocal intonations on this live track weave in and out of the music perfectly.  My good buddy and brilliant drum teacher is on percussion/keys providing nice melody in the background on this track.  Otherwise, David Butler is smashing the groove, laying into his cymbal combinations (sometimes so intense he's standing and crushing), and locking in with the lovely basslines provided by Stephanie Sanders.  I cannot leave out one of the better guitar players I've seen in a very long time in John Kleber, who along with David and singer-songwriter, Doran Danoff, plays in another brilliant Brooklyn band, CHILDE.  The two bands often play after one another on special occasions in Brooklyn, which makes for the best night of music you can experience!  Check out both bands' websites and Facebook/Myspace pages: http://www.hawkanddovenyc.com and http://www.myspace.com/childenyc
    2.    (0:04:09) Battles TONTO - Another brilliant track off their highly acclaimed Mirrored LP.  Looking forward to hearing their follow up to the groundbreaking sophomoric LP.
    3.    (0:10:57) Raekwon feat. Ghostface & Method Man NEW WU - Corey Woods, or Raekwon the Chef of the Wu-Tang Clan, has successfully produced a worthy follow-up to his 1995 solo debut record, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx LP...Usually when a hip hop artist relies on follow-ups, parts 2 or more to album titles, the artist falls short of expectation.  Surely, Raekwon had plenty of expectation riding on this one, being 14 years since part one was released.  He brought his weaponry, however, and the rest of the Clan to back up his absolutely fantastic 2009 release of Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt.II.  
    4.    (0:14:34) Iva Bittova & Vladimir Vaclavek ZELENY VINECEK - One of the most beautiful voices and violin playing I've ever seen, by this Czech woman, Miss Bittova.  I saw her recently perform in a church in Manhattan along with the brilliant pianist, Lisa Moore, who also worked with Iva in the eclectic group, Bang On A Can All-Stars.  This most amazing song is off the compilation, Bile Inferno, with brilliant Czech guitarist, Vladimir Vaclavek and backing band.  You can see an alternate live version on YouTube in a faster tempo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0unoz7Im0Tk
    5.    (0:19:01) The Postal Service THIS PLACE IS A PRISON - Apt name for a group when you use technology and email as a means to transmit music.  That's exactly what Death Cab For Cutie frontman, Ben Gibbard, and producer, Jimmy Tamborello, did in order to make their debut LP, Give Up.  The album also features Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley in several of the songs.  Love the drum 6/8 drum pattern in the second half of this song.  The USPS once sent a cease and desist letter to the band to discontinue the use of the trademarked name, however, through negotiations, the USPS agreed to allow the name to be used as long as they promoted the services, and in return, the USPS helped sell their CDs.
    6.    (0:22:43) Mattafix THE MEANS - UK electronic duo specializing in hip hop, reggae, dancehall, soul, etc. This track is off their 2005 LP, Signs of a Struggle.  
    7.    (0:26:35) Lure DISSIPATION - Oh no, another beautiful band that no longer exists in Brooklyn.  I was able to hear this band open for one of my favorite Brooklyn bands, KUDU, about 9 years ago or so, and was impressed by their subtle electronic-indie sound.  Drummer, Yuval Lion, now smashing for Pink Noise, also impressed me with his nice groove.  I believe you can still purchase their CD or mp3 album on cdbaby.com.  I'll never forget Deantoni Parks, idol drummer from KUDU, coming up to me after Lure performed asking me if I had seen Yuval so he can get his ride cymbal.  I didn't quite answer the question until I told him I thought he was a drum god...he was humbled and responded very cordially.  
    8.    (0:30:46) Mos Def feat. Slick Rick AUDITORIUM - Absolutely wicked Madlib-produced classic featuring old school guru, Slick Rick The Ruler.  This is off Mos Def's 2009 highly acclaimed LP, The Ecstatic, which is apparently named after the book with the same title by Victor LaValle.  Personally, I think Mos Def is one of today's finest talents in both his conscious hip hop and his ability to act on camera.  
    9.    (0:34:50) Sting SHAPE OF MY HEART - What a brilliant track off Ten Summoner's Tales, by Mr. Gordon Sumner.  Vinny Colaiuta provides some of the best drum parts in pop music off this brilliant LP, and this track provides the perfect percussion and groove to compliment the music.
    10.    (0:39:17) Nine Inch Nails THE BIG COME DOWN - Another brilliant track off Reznor's double-LP, The Fragile.  This track is off the (Right) side of the 'brain' makeup that is the album.  
    11.    (0:43:12) Anoushka Shankar MAHADEVA - I was lucky enough to see both Ravi and Anoushka Shankar perform at Carnegie Hall a couple of months ago, six months before Ravi's 90th birthday.  Ravi's supreme sitar-playing has always fancied the ears of his listeners, but I must say, Anoushka has evolved in her playing so much, that she was truly the star of the show as Ravi's health disallowed him to play at the speed he once mastered.  Anoushka was born in London, split time in Delhi, India, but now lives in the United States.  Here you can hear her departure from the classical Indian format and more into the electronic sounds that she has delved into.  She also collaborates with Karsh Kale, another brilliantly trained classical Indian composer/musician who finds his comfortability in electronica.  Anoushka is the daughter of Ravi, and half-sister of Norah Jones.  You can find this track off Anoushka's LP, Rise.
    12.    (0:48:02) Primus SOUTHBOUND PACHYDERM - Composer, singer, and one of America's greatest bassists, Les Claypool joins guitarist Larry LaLonde and drummer Tim Alexander in rock's power-trio from California.  This is the one band I can honestly say that the bassist is the star of the show and the guitarist is just an added element.  Claypool once auditioned for Metallica after the death of Cliff Burton, and James Hetfield turned him down because he was just too good!  This opened up the door for Claypool's solo career and the beginning of Primus.  This brilliant track is off Tales From The Punchbowl.
    13.    (0:54:10) Sigur Ros HAFSYL - Here's another brilliant track and perfect closing song off the Icelandic superstars' Hvarf-Heim double-LP.  This is a compilation of previously unreleased material and live performances by Sigur Ros.