Ghostface Concert Tomorrow.

American University Tavern.

Featuring Witch Doctor.

Hilarity will ensue.

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Check it. I am one artistic SOB.

Album Reccomendation: Chris Joss- You've Been Spiked

4.0/5.0 -- Reccomended



Chris Joss is a one-man band who focuses on sampling and remixing 70's era Jazz and Funk. Released by the Eighteenth Street Lounge label, who also produce Thievery Corporation's music, this album is a ridiculously entertaining fusion of Jazz, Electronic and Funk, which never fails or falters throughout its 50 minute runtime. The whole thing feels like a sountrack to a vintage Blaxploitation movie, if said soundtrack was composed with modern production values by an expert producer.

Tracks of note:
Drink Me Hot - babymaking music, pure and simple.

Wrong Alley Street - Reminds me of a car chase.

You've Been Spiked - Funk as a genre was never famous for featuring much Sitar-playing. This track makes you wonder why.

Riviera 69 - Easily the most relaxed cut on this album, features smooth bass riffs brilliantly punctuated by staccato organ strikes. My favorite.

Album reccomendation: Thievery Corporation Versions

4.5/5.0 -- Reccomended

Theivery Corporation is a DJ/ production duo who thrive in Washington DC's vibrant lounge music scene. They mainly produce downtempo, instrumental and bass-heavy jams relying heavily on influences from Jamaican Dub Reggae, Deep House, and traditional music from Latin America and the Middle East. They are responsible for the excellent albums The Mirror Conspiracy, The Richest Man in Babylon, and their most recent LP The Cosmic Game; all of which are excellent examples of the genre.

Versions is an eclectic collection of remixes done throughout the group's career, and spans musical genres from mainstream rock and pop to indie to to reggae and Latin salsa. The album is truly amazing in this regard; all tracks on this record are unique and vibrant and no single cut stands out as filler.

The album kicks off with Tarana, a mysterious and haunting piece which channels the vocals of Ustad Sultan Kahn, an Indian singer who records traditional Hindi Music. His vocals are expertly overlaid onto Thievery Corporation's mellow beats, which makes for an absolutely mesmerizing, if not slightly ominous, listening experience.

Another gem on this record is their dubbed out remix of Herb Alpert's 'Lemon Tree' which evokes newfound emotion and depth from Apert's trademark frivolous and carefree horn numbers.

Other tracks of note include their remix of Strange Days by The Doors, and Sarah McLauglen's 'Dirty Little Secret' (Note: as a man, I cannot freely admit that I like Sarah McLachlan. However I am secure enough to say that this is a truly beautiful recording.)

Overall, Thievery Corporation has managed to create a vibrant and diverse collection which all contain the group's trademark Downtempo lounge feel, yet still maintain the essentials which made the original songs memorable.

Here's a track from the album:
Thievery Corporation feat. Sister Nancy - Originality

Official Web Site

So About that "Roots" Concert...

wait, wtf?


Let me start off by saying that when I bought tickets for the show last week at the 9:30 club, I was expecting a true Roots concert. Having seen them live at Constitution Hall in DC with Lupe Fiasco, I couldn't wait to experience them live in a small venue like the 9:30. However, when I got there, I was disappointed to learn that the show wasn't really focused on the Roots, and in fact was a showcase of lesser-known artists with the roots band performing in the background. That being said, once I got over the fact that I wasn't going to be hearing and of the Roots' own material, the concert ended up being pretty awesome.

The Format of the concert was as follows: Black Thought Emceed the show, introducing the various acts and sometimes performing with them while the Roots band played in the background. MC Lyte, Skillz, and Big Daddy Kane all put on great performances, but Black Thought FUCKING KILLED as always. His dense freestyle raps cemented my opinion that he is hands down one of the most talented MC's out there, an opinion echoed by all of the other artists at various points in the show.

The Roots band was great as usual, especially the tuba player who always cracks me up when I see him on stage. Seriously, the guy takes that tuba and fucking rocks it.

The other artists were entertaining enough, but I found myself looking at my watch at around the 2 and a half hour mark. Seriously, that was one of the longest sets I've ever experienced. It literally went on for 3 and a half hours, which in a standing room only venue like 9:30, gets a little tiresome.

Oh, and I forgot my camera. so no pictures.

Last.fm Playlist

Check it, to the right.

Tracks included:

Mobius Band – The Loving Sounds of Static
Jarvis – Black Magic
Pulp – Bar Italia
Radiohead – Everything in Its Right Place
Mobius Band – Hallie
Malajube – Montréal -40°C
Broken Social Scene – Lover's Spit
Chad VanGaalen – Flower Gardens
David Bowie – Life On Mars?
Duplomacy – Stars
Heartless Bastards – Searching for the Ghost
Busdriver – The Troglodyte Wins
Wolf Parade – Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
Múm – Green Grass of Tunnel
806 Main St. – Dead Air
The Shins – Caring Is Creepy
Thom Yorke – And It Rained All Night
Maxïmo Park – Signal and Sign
Art Brut – HOME ALTARS OF MEXICO
Stereophonics – I Miss You Now (Album Version)
Animal Collective – Grass

Sometimes it gets a little wonky and doesn't work. Just hit refresh on your browser and that should do the trick.

Some Music Reccomendations Via iTunes

Here's an iMix that I will be updating periodically. You must Have iTunes installed to access it.

Schweet New Jams

Track listing:

White Rat---------------------------Ham1
West Side---------------------------Studio
Under the Waves------------------Pseudosix
Melody Day-------------------------Caribou
The Loving Sounds of Static-----Mobius Band
The Bar Is Too Low to Fail-------Boat
Drink To Moving On--------------Grand National
Miryad Harbour-------------------The New Pornographers (highest recc!)

Enjoy.