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Part of me really belongs on the west coast. I was actually born there in Anaheim, but I’ve spent nearly all of my life living in the desert southwest. However, here and there my love of certain things makes me think I really am a coastal boy at heart. One thing I love is west…
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In 1983, Orange Juice released this great ode to moving on called Rip it Up. Over an insanely catchy guitar rhythm (lightly lifted from Chic’s Good Times) and a Roland TB-303 bass synth track, Edwyn Collins in his most erudite voice details, through his own unique way, the need to get over one’s cynical/conservative self.…
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Its days like this that Spotify fails me. I was going to link to Cheb Khaled’s “Hada Raykoum” from the album of the same name. Now that album cover is swaggerific. The King of Rai just straight up gangsta leanin’ hell, the whole album is just all up nasty. Over some of the Casioest beats…
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Today I’m going to be so on the nose with my pick. Dando Shaft’s “In the Country” from their Evening with Dando Shaft album expertly captures why Mondays suck. Its never per se, because Mondays objectively are worse than any other day, its just that Mondays immediately follow our weekend. Aren’t weekends so great? That’s…
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This track called “San Lorenzo” is actually a traditional devotional song from the indigenous Tzotzil people from Chiapas in Mexico. The harmonic singing is all traditional, the use of violins and 12-string guitars is all traditional, but the music itself…the way they perform the song…is completely otherworldly. Imagine Tom Waits getting stuck in the Appalachian mountains…
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I begrudgingly love to wake up early. For me, its one of the few times of the day when the world gives you a breather to take in sounds, sights, and smells you couldn’t normally experience. The only problem is that your body, as its wont to do, struggles to be as alive as the…
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I don’t know how to quite describe my choice for today. Its a great salsa song from Willie Colon that’s driven by the unique voice of Hector “La Voz” Lavoe. Hector is known as the greatest salsa vocalist, his work as lead vocalist with artists such as Willie Colon, Ruben Blades and other Fania label…
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Just to continue a bit on a theme I’ve been touching on. What I truly admire in an artist is when you see a hidden talent expressed begrudgingly. The softness of Lou Reed, Camel’s obvious pop talents, and in the case of my pick of the day Pye Hasting’s seriously melodic chop. I don’t say…
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There’s just something about April, and springtime in general. No other month just feels so comfortable, and affectionate. I mean how can you not be moved when you see all this life just blossoming around, or notice days getting longer, and the whole environment just warming you up from the cold chills of winter. Even…
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Talk about another big FU. Lou Reed released in 1975 Metal Machine Music, perhaps one of the most abrasive and biggest loads of aural poo you’ll ever hear. I’ve heard good noise, Tangerine Dream’s Phaedra or Glenn Branca’s The Ascension, but that album was proper garbage. My pick of the day, comes from his Coney…
ambient art pop art rock balearic brazilian electro-acoustic england environmental music experimental fourth world Funk fusion japan jazz minimalist mpb neo-folk neoclassical new age walearic