Tonegents

Blog to the Future

2009-11-23T16:23:00.001-08:00

I'm on a goofy schedule this week, supporting our show as it films all the hell the way in Australia... they're 17 hours ahead, so right now it's tomorrow there already. So I'm feeling like I'm working IN THE FUTURE! WE GOTS THE FLYING CARS! EVERYBODY NOW HATES RAYMOND! SOCCER ISN'T GAY ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU GET TO USE LASERS! IT'S CRAZY!

Anyhoo, here's some more Dubstep gear for ya, courtesy of Untold. Actually, I'm not sure what to call this one, as it's kind of on the border of Broken Beat. Is this what they call "Funky"? Because there's something they call "Funky" now...

Untold - Palamino (ysi)

Well, whatever you call it, I kinda like it. And that's as deep a statement as you're gonna get outta me today. It's way past my bedtime...

Truebeats

2009-11-20T12:59:00.000-08:00

House Music Friday once again goes slo-mo and lo-fi...

I've already once given you all the insight I have on Mr. Rainer Truby... he's good at music and bad at not being dumb. Well, he's lived up to the first part of that again with this one... supposedly a tribute to Roy Ayers, but I'm not sure what Ayers tracks (if any) are sampled here. Don't matter though... I've been in love with this track since Matthieu Schreyer dropped it a couple weeks ago on KCRW...

Rainer Truby - Ayers Rock (ysi)

The A-side is a pretty nice Stevie re-edit, btw... and have a great weekend, you...

No can do

2009-11-19T10:43:00.000-08:00

And now for yet another version of one of the true classics of White Boy (Plus Vaguely Ethnic Guy With Moustache) Soul...

Personally I would have to rank Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" right up there will "Billie Jean" as a contender for Best Song of the Whole Freakin' '80s. And I imagine that if this was the kind of blog that was "read" by "people" who "commented", I bet that statement would certainly set off a fierce debate in the comments. But alas, I'm not here to fool myself. Anyhoo, the Swedish producer known as Beatconductor (among about 15 other aliases) has done made a nifty re-edit of the classic, adding some tougher drums and some rhodes and generally rearranging stuff... because that's what re-edits do, ya dig? Better than the original? Heresy! But it's certainly a bit more dancefloor ready...

Beatconductor - I Can't Go For That (ysi)

But hey, you have many choices for your "I Can't Go For That" needs... from De La's "Say No Go" to that sick peaktime House White label by I Have No Idea Who from a few years back to the goofy P.J Pooterhoots version to... you get the idea... Collect 'em all!

It's better than a spring loaded shot to the nuts, at least...

2009-11-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

You know who still likes Acid Jazz? Why, Japanese people, of course!

Yeah, it's kind of a dirty word and all but it is happy music generally and the Japanese seem to be a happy bunch. You would be too if you had flying cars and robot hamsters like they do. So you get people like Kenichi Ikeda, aka Root Soul still workin' the A to the J. I can't think of any other genre you could put this in... it's so Brand New Heavies, it hurts. Vocals by the not Japanese but British Vanessa Freeman, whose own solo record is an excellent broken beat affair that you should also go find out about. I can't do everything for you...

Root Soul - It's The Way (ft. Vanessa Freeman (ysi)

Nice one. And here's a little tip: If you ever visit Japan, do not go on a game show, no matter what the prizes are...

It's Super Happy Crush Balls Hour! Banzai!

How many channels do you get?

2009-11-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

After unleashing all that comedy gold on you yesterday, I think I'll keep it low key today. Don't want you to pull a hammy laughing or anything...

I always thought that girls who make music (meaning girl producers) were super cool, basically because they combined two of my favorite things... girls and music. Kind of a no-brainer, eh? So, The Angel, aka 60 Channels was a gal from the L.A. scene who made music... so super cool. She did (and apparently still does) Downtempo and Drum & Bass, and though she never got terribly big it was some pretty decent stuff. To wit...

60 Channels - Laid Back & Eazy (ysi)

'Til tomorrow...

Phat Beats and Phisticuffs

2009-11-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many of you like the boxing, but I gotta say that was some show Manny Pacquiao put on Saturday night. He basically gave Miguel Cotto the soon-to-be-patented "1000 Fist Facial"... check out the loser's grill after the fight...

"So, where does it hurt?" "Yes."

But lucky for Cotto, Las Vegas is the home of some of the best plastic surgeons in the world and they were able to fix him up better than ever. Here's a picture of the new Miguel taken earlier this morning...

"Hey ladies... the line for moustache rides starts to the left!"

So I guess it all worked out pretty well for Cotto in the end... which is nice because he was a good fighter. Just not Saturday when he got his ass SMASHED...

Of course, none of that has anything to do with today's tune, from young British rapper Speech Debelle. This Roots Manuva-produced record made the Mercury Prize shortlist... which is, I believe, a good thing. It's one of the most acoustic and introspective Rap albums you're likely to ever hear... mellow beats and thoughtful lyrics ABOUND...

Speech Debelle - Finish This Album (ysi)

I can't wait for Pacquiao/Mayweather. Literally cannot wait. I just tried waiting and it hurt. Let's DO THIS!

I'm in Playboy and you're not.

2009-11-16T09:54:00.001-08:00

(Click to see a bigger version and a video at Playboy.com)

I get some fun perks at my job. This has to be the best one yet.

You're killin' me, Quizno's!

2009-11-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

Gah! What the hell happened to Quizno's meatball subs? They used to be so good, but what I just got was a soggy bun full of soggy shit. This world's goin' to Hell in a handbasket, I tells ya!

So yeah, it's a good thing that Floating Points' music is a lot better than his artwork, because... damn... that's worse than the sub I just ate. Super-vibey slowed down House goodness... wait for the bassline...

Floating Points - Truly (ysi)

Have a great weekend and stay away from the meatball...

Nerds don't do Playboy shoots... or do they?

2009-11-12T10:14:00.001-08:00

I have been up to my tits in new Dubstep records all day... so here's some obscure French '70s Funk...

There is very little information out there about Ben & The Platano Group, but really... who wants to fill their head up with useless things like "facts" and "knowledge". That shit's for nerds. Oh, wait. I'm a nerd... hmmmm... Anyhoo, most of the album funks harder than this one, but this is where the shuffle landed and everybody loves a little "wakka-wakka" guitar, no?

Ben & The Platano Group - Culzean (ysi)

So that's all well and good, but certain things are better. Like this video. I'm the only person that talks in it, just so's ya know... and not to be a dick about it, but... yes, my job is better than yours. Suck it.

Super heavy metal

2009-11-11T10:44:00.000-08:00

Now here's some shit an old band geek like me can really get behind...

I would be talking about the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, straight outta Chicago. And just like yesterday's act, the name tells you exactly what you need to know... except they coulda replaced "Hypnotic" with "Dayum Fonkay". But either way... you got 8 horns and a drummer. Oh, and that album title is no joke... they are all actual (half) brothers, sons of a Jazz musician (no, really?) whom I had never heard of and won't pretend to in order to seem cool. Get ready for a brass-gasm...

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Venus (ysi)

And here's an example of why both this band and NYC are very, very good things...

Yeah, if that doesn't float your boat... well then, I hope your boat sinks...

Funky beats and idle threats

2009-11-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the name of an act tells you exactly what you are in for...

All Good Funk Alliance are to funky Breaks what Inland Knights are to funky House. The kinda-under-the-radar guys who are both prolific and consistently awesome. Like the Knights, these dudes simply do not put out a bad track, even though they put out a heck of a lot of tracks. It's called being good at music. The beat on this jam is crispy like bacon, yo...

All Good Funk Alliance - Swing The South (ysi)

And as I alluded there's plenty more where that came from, so get at it. Also, get out your text message device and vote for Chelsea Lately for the People's Choice Award for Best Talk Show! Text "Vote" to 24475. Do it! DO IT! DO IT OR I'LL POST NOTHING BUT KENNY G. AND MICHAEL BOLTON! DON'T MAKE ME GO THERE! Seriously, don't make me...

That's Dr. Kode9 to you!

2009-11-09T10:02:00.000-08:00

I hope none of you are sick of the Dubstep yet, because I'm not even close...

Kode9, aka Steve Goodman (which is not nearly as Techno), was one of the first Dubstep artists I ever heard, so... well, actually there's not much more to that. He was one of the first ones I heard. So yeah. Anyhoo, he's the founder of the extremely cool Hyperdub label and also holds a Ph.D. in philosophy... which I'm sure helps him immensely in... some way. If you dug the Joy Orbison record from a few weeks ago, I'm sure this one will also make your pants happy...

Kode9 - Black Sun (ysi)

Here's Dr. Goodman showing off all that brainpower and pontificating on stuff via XLR8R..

Smart guy. Top tune. 'Til tomorrow...

Rollin' with my homies

2009-11-06T11:57:00.000-08:00

House Music Friday is keepin' it in the family today...

I've mentioned before that I have friends that are far better at music than I am, and here's one of 'em. Sebastian Ciceri is his name, and pimpin' is his game. Well, not really, but that was a dope rhyme, yo. Homey is a crazy skilled bass player and electronic beatmeister, and his latest release is 100% dancefloor goodness... is it breaks-y house or house-y breaks? Either way, if I told you it was Plump DJs or Stanton Warriors, you would believe me, that's how fat these beats is...

Sebastian Ciceri - Groove Nation (ysi)

You need to now proceed to his website and buy it!

While you're there, check out Seb's "Moonlit Heavy" releases for a more cinematic experience and the special secret photo section for hot man-on-man action. Okay, maybe I made the second part up... have a great weekend, peeps.

Geekin' out

2009-11-05T10:10:00.000-08:00

Let's take a break from the "A" section of my iTunes to hear one that popped up in the car the other day that I quite like.

Not too sure who this Smoove guy is but I can tell you from the pictures on his site, he's a ripe old geezer. Seriously, like creepy old. Makes some funky shit though. I really dig the lyrics in this one, although there are some extremely British references and you have to be a pretty huge music geek to know why the line "Keb Darge buys his vinyl from me/As if" is funny. I, of course, fit that description to a T...

Smoove - As If (ysi)

... although I'm really far, far past the point of caring if I'm a geek or not... which as we all know makes me extremely cool... Take me down to Paradox City! See? That joke was geeky as fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck...

Everbody Hates Barack

2009-11-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

So Barack Obama has been President for a year now and he must feel like the title character of that Chris Rock sitcom. Dude is really getting it from both ends these days! The far right hates him because he's ~~black~~ a Nazi Communist Baby-Killing Terrorist who Hates America and the far left hates him because he's a Pandering Centrist Weenie who Doesn't Like To Play Basketball With Girls. Damn. Luckily most of us sane people think he's doing a fucking awesome job despite the fact that he has to deal with the bunch of corrupt, self-serving idiots that comprise Congress, and that the people who complain about the basketball thing have obviously never watched the Chinese water torture of sporting that is a WNBA game. So keep up the good work, sir. We got your back...

And hey, here's some good old-fashioned Bush-era government mistrust in the form of shuffling beats and blazing horn charts, courtesy of Antibalas, who are kind of the elder statesmen of the current crop of excellent American Afrobeat ensembles...

Antibalas - Government Magic (ysi)

Seriously, Liberals... before you start getting on my man Barry's case because he hasn't cured cancer, ended all war or won the World Series for the Cubs yet... just remember how shitty things were just one short year and a day ago... and shut the fuck up and let the man work. Toodles...

The Art of Blakey

2009-11-03T10:29:00.000-08:00

Because I like to keep it cutting edge, up-to-the-minute and "Ripped From The Headlines!"... here's another 50-year-old record...

... because I can't believe I've never given Art Blakey any love! I mean, he's only the most famous Jazz drummer ever and I, you know, claim to like Jazz and stuff. So finally here he is on an early one ('56 to be exact) with a no-name group... some schlubs called Byrd, Mobley and Silver.

Art Blakey - Late Show (ysi)

But then again, the Jazz Messengers were known as a place where big-time playas got their start... here's a completely different group being awesome 3 years later...

Check the full list of Blakey proteges on the Wiki page as I can't be arsed to copy and paste it here. It's quite impressive...

Post #750

2009-11-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hey look, it's post #750! Normally I like to do mixes for such milestones, but as you may remember, my iTunes is all 'asploded. So let's just proceed as normal...

Like most white people, I went pretty nuts for Buena Vista Social Club when it came out. Seriously, I challenge you to find one white person who doesn't have that album. I kinda still hate Ry Cooder and his stupid kid and his stupid slide guitar though. Seriously, I want to punch him in the face every single time I hear the damn thing in that movie. But hey, I'll give him credit where it's due, and he certainly opened my eyes to Cuban music and here's some O.G. styles right here. I don't know too much about Arsenio Rodriguez that I didn't learn from Jose Rizo, so I will present you these two facts. He played the tres, which is a guitar, and he was blind from getting kicked in the head by a donkey. How's that for some bullshit?

Arsenio Rodriguez - Devuelveme La Ilusion (ysi)

STICK THAT SLIDE GUITAR WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE, RY COODER! (And by that I mean up your ass).

Adolph don't dance.

2009-10-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since House Music Friday has featured a proper vocal. Let's fix that...

Alexi Delano... born in Chile, raised in Sweden, lives in New York (that sounds like fun, huh?)... has been around both the world and the scene for quite some time, making fine House and Techno musics for a good 15 years now. Here's probably my favorite track of his... out of the ones I've heard, of course... because I really haven't been able to form an opinion on the ones I haven't. I know that doesn't stop some people, but I am NOT SOME PEOPLE...

ADNY - Life (ft. Doreen Youngblood) (ysi)

Sorry for the all caps there. Had a bit of a seizure. Anyhoo, bonus points for that one if you like congas. But really, who doesn't like congas? Oh wait, I know who. Hitler. Have a great weekend...

Everything's all 'asploded...

2009-10-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

So... last week something quite apocalyptic happened. The library file in my iTunes got ~~raped by drunken gremlins~~ fatally corrupted. What that means is it has to be rebuilt, manually. This is a process which will hopefully be finished by... well, I hope it's finished before 2012 comes and I'm fleeing for some big spaceship with John Cusack. The result of this is that you will see a certain alphabetical progression to the bands picked by the shuffle over the next few million posts or so. Starting with the numbers, no less...

3 Foot People is one of the many aliases of the man also know as Freddie Cruger or Red Astaire, a maker of many funky beats for feets. On this one, he gets his skank on with the help of Reggae singer Desmond Foster who must be pretty easy to spot in a crowd in Sweden. Just sayin'...

3 Foot People - Simply Fresh (ft. Desmond Foster (ysi)

I am kinda stoked for that movie though, especially the part where L.A. literally falls into the ocean...

I hope I'm out of town when that really happens... :P

In praise of Ramshacklelacrity

2009-10-28T09:56:00.000-07:00

Super-obscure Afro-Funk? You got it!

Like Mr. Burns, I'm a big fan of old-timey sayings and words. Like "ramshackle". What an awesome word that nobody ever uses. But it's a word that describes a quality of African Funk that I've decided is one of the reasons I'm so into it. Some of these recordings are pretty darn ramshackle. These people weren't glossy pros working in fancy studios with all sorts of high-falutin' doo-dads and thingamajigs. They didn't have the luxury of digital editing, mulitrack flim-flammery and other assorted studio witchcraft. Nope, they just had their band, maybe one mic and one of them recording doohickeys. They went in, they played their song and Bob's yer uncle. But the rawness, the RAMSHACKLENESS of these recordings is what makes them so pure and raw and awesome... and funky as all git out. Like this joint by lesser known Nigerian artist Segun Bucknor. Dig it...

Segun Bucknor - Dye Dye (ysi)

Pretty much played live, ya know? Imperfections all over the place, ya dig? And quite amazing, ya heard?

Bizarre Beats and Gratuitous Profanity

2009-10-27T10:58:00.001-07:00

Here's some very out there shit for you...

I don't think I've ever had a harder time trying to figure out the tag for a post than I have with this Dorian Concept record here. It's that fuckin' out there. So naturally I settled on IDM, because I am lazy and will use meaningless genre terms despite my rant yesterday. I'm a bundle of contradictions wrapped inside a paradox and shoved up a ferret's ass. Yes, this record is as weird as that last sentence. And kinda amazing. It's a young kid from Austria (Yep, I'm old enough to call 24-year-olds kids. Pass the Geritol!) who can program the shit out of some shit, let me tell ya. To wit...

Dorian Concept - Color Sexist (ysi)

BUT! It turns out the guy is also a borderline amazing keyboard player, too. Peep this live vid in a much more organic, jazzy vibe...

Sorry about the two minutes of dudes speaking German in the middle. Um, well I'm not sorry to Germans, obviously, but to everyone else...

Return of the Crank

2009-10-26T10:22:00.000-07:00

So yeah, I took another week off without mentioning it beforehand. Sorry 'bout that. Let's just forget it ever happened, 'kay?

(I hope no one sees me eating this hot dog while blogging... mmmmmm, mustard...)

Some people refer to Chicago band Tortoise "post-rock", but that is about the single stupidest term for a made-up genre of music that I have ever heard. Seriously, what the fuck is that supposed to mean? "After" Rock? Then that would encompass, I dunno, everything that came after Rock, except that we still have Rock, so how can there be a "post" yet. Seriously, don't ever use that term around me. I'll cut you. I'll cut you bad. Anyhoo, Tortoise are a bit unclassifiable... and there's nothing wrong with that. They play instrumental stuff, some of which is more Rock-y and some of which is more funky. We, of course, like them best when they are funky. To wit...

Tortoise - Gigantes (ysi)

See, I always come back good 'n' ornery after a week off. I'll just throw in a "Fuck Animal Collective" while I'm at it. That always feels good...

She said, "Eat it!"...

2009-10-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

All I gotta say is the type of parents who would name their kid Falcon... you know what I mean? Anyhoo...

Here's another one of those house tracks with a whole bunch of people involved... first we have Marshall Jefferson, the "Godfather of House" representing Chicago. He's the one doing the talking. Then we have Noosa Heads, a couple of German Techno heads, on the beats. Finally Salt City Orchestra, a team of Brits largely responsible for much of Paper Recordings output, on the remix. It all adds up to a bona fide House classic...

Marshall Jefferson vs. Noosa Heads - Mushrooms (Salt City Orchestra Remix) (ysi)

Unfortunately all of my jokes are in a ballon flying 7,000 feet above Denver right now.... have a great weekend...

Lenny Kravitz, Hired Dick

2009-10-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice random one for ya...

Long before she was the unofficial Mrs. Johnny Depp, Vanessa Paradis was getting boned for a while by Lenny Kravitz. What, too crude? Look, he was still married to Lisa Bonet at the time... therefore I think it's fair to classify it as boning, although the judges also would have accepted "banging", "porking" and "launching his beef rocket into". Anyhoo, he also produced a music album for her and it was surprisingly good. Lenny wrote his bone-muffin some nice, "retro"-styled Pop songs (Lenny Kravitz retro? Geddafuckaouddahere!) but it's the "Future Song" that's my fave... see what I did there?

Vanessa Paradis - The Future Song (ysi)

Now although this album represents the beginning and end of my knowledge of Vanessa Paradis' musical career, apparently it's been quite prolific... to the point that she has a "Greatest Hits" album coming out soon that I won't be purchasing. Who knew? Lenny Kravitz, of course went on to bone several other women, none of whom have any albums of any kind due ever... except for Kylie Minogue... and Natalie Imbruglia... and most likely Madonna... and damn, Lenny, maybe I should have titled the post "tired dick"...

No explanation necessary...

2009-10-14T09:54:00.001-07:00

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I don't, in general, rock. But at the same time...

... I'm sure we can all agree that Jimi rules...

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Wait Until Tomorrow (ysi)

What, you needed a write up on this one?