Favorites from 2009 (so far)

It took me a while but I finally got around to posting them all.  In no particular order, here are my favorites from 2009, so far…

Phoenix
MP3: “1901
MP3: “Lisztomania

Dan Auerbach
MP3: “When The Night Comes

Grizzly Bear
MP3: “Two Weeks

Wilco
MP3: “Solitaire
MP3: “One Wing
MP3: “I’ll Fight

Quantic and His Combo Barbaro
Amazon: “The Dreaming Mind

Andrew Bird
MP3: “Oh No

Franz Ferdinand
MP3: “No You Girls

Doves
MP3: “Jetstream
MP3: “Kingdom of Rust

Yeah Yeah Yeahs
MP3: “Hysteric

Black Crowes
MP3: “I Ain’t Hiding

White Rabbits
MP3: “Percussion Gun

K’naan
MP3: “Take A Minute

Manchester Orchestra
MP3: “I’ve Got Friends

Mocky
MP3: “Birds Of A Feather

Kutiman
http://thru-you.com/

Black Moth Super Rainbow
MP3: “Born On A Day The Sun Didn’t Rise
MP3: “Twin Of Myself
MP3: “Fields Are Breathing

Animal Collective
MP3: “My Girls

Matt and Kim
MP3: “Daylight

Silversun Pickups
MP3: “Panic Switch

Curumin
MP3: “Compacto
MP3: “Salto No Vacuo Con Joelhada

Emiliani Torrini
MP3: “Me and Armini

Zion I
MP3: “Coastin

Junior Boys
MP3: “Parallel Lines

General Elektriks

MP3: “You Don’t Listen

St Vincent
MP3: “Strangers

Coconut Records
MP3: “Any Fun

Matisyahu
“One Day”

Method Man and Redman
MP3: “A Yo

Tosca
MP3 Link: “Joe Si Ha
MP3: “Fondue

The BPA
MP3: “Toe Jam
MP3: “He’s Frank

Bishop Allen
MP3: “The Ancient Commonsense of Things

—-

Newer acts:

Band of Skulls
MP3 Link: “Death By Diamonds and Pearls
MP3: “I Know What I Am

Empire of the Sun
MP3: “Walking On A Dream

One eskimO
Link to listen: “Given Up
MP3: “Givin Up (Don Diablo remix)

Nickel Eye
MP3: “Brandy of the Damned featuring Wale (Mark Ronson remix)
MySpace link to listen: “Bonnie and Clyde

Mayer Hawthorne
MP3: “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out

Zee Avi
MP3: “Bitter Heart
MP3: “The Story

Passion Pit
MP3: “Moth’s Wings
MP3 link: “The Reeling
MP3: “Little Secrets

Fight From Above
MP3: “Between The Curves

Vosotros Presents: The Years
MP3 link: “Lose My Number
MP3 link: “Heartbreaker

Daniel Merriweather
MP3: “Change” featuring Wale

The Big Pink
MP3: “Velvet

The Temper Trap
MP3: Sweet Disposition

Thenewno2
MP3 link: “Yomp
MP3 link: “Give You Love
MP3: “Crazy Tuesday

Asa
MP3: “Jailer
MP3: “Subway

The Very Best
MP3: “Warm Heart of Africa

St Motel
MP3: “Dear Dictator

Danny Chaimson
MySpace link to listen: “This Is Life

Hey Champ
MP3: “Cold Dust Girl

Jaydiohead by Minty Fresh Productions
MP3: “Wrong Prayer

Asher Roth feat. Busta Rhymes and New Kingdom
MP3: “Lion’s Roar” produced by Oren Yoel

—-

Mixtapes:

Wale & 9th Wonder - Back To The Feature

TiRonKetchup
Miguel featuring TiRon – “Go”

Weekly Dose (4/26/09)

About a month ago, a great remix album was released- Nat King Cole: Re: Generations.  It features classic Nat King Cole songs remixed by a number of great artists like The Roots, Cee-Lo, Bebel Gilberto, Stephen and Damien Marley, Cut Chemist, Brazilian Girls, Nas & Salaam Remi, and TV on the Radio.  It’s an unbelievable remix album.  When I talk with people who think classic songs should be left alone, I’ll be sure to bring up this album to show them why I disagree.

MP3: Nat King Cole – Lush Life (Cee-Lo remix)
MP3: Nat King Cole – Day In Day Out (Cut Chemist remix)

Nat King Cole: Re: Generations

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Speaking of great remixes, how about a great cover song?  Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings released this soulful version of the Shuggie Otis song “Inspiration Information” for the Red Hot charity compilation Dark Was The Night.  The original album, Inspiration Information (1974), was one that I found at the USC radio station, not too long after it was reissued back in 2001.  I instantly fell in love with the album and started collecting as much Shuggie Otis material as I could.  I was thrilled to hear a new take on what I consider an unappreciated classic.

MP3: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings – Inspiration Information
Mp3 Sample: Shuggie Otis: Inspiration Information

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Mos Def did a 12 minute cover of Kanye West’s “Say You Will” when he played the Blue Note in NYC back in January.  I’ve said it before and this MP3 is just another example of how Kanye is a better producer than anything else.  He’s so much better when he’s behind the scenes than when he is in the spotlight.  I don’t think he could ever handle that though.  After seeing his response on his blog to the “Gay Fish” episode of South Park, I don’t think Kanye could ever be happy with just being behind the scenes.  Anyway, Mos Def has a lot of soul and he’s got a great common man’s voice in my opinion.  He’s not an incredibly talented singer, he’s not even a great singer, but his voice is really good.  I was skeptical when I first heard about the cover but, after hearing it, I love this song now.  And usually I don’t like live recordings but this is a good one, the recording reminds me of a live version of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” I have…

MP3: Mos Def – Say You Will (Live at the Blue Note)

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When I first heard about a Beatles‘ “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” remix, I thought it had to be terrible.  But I quickly changed my mind after I listened to Streetlab’s remix.  Streetlab gives the song a whole new feeling and it’s a lot of fun.  I think it’s great but I’d be willing to bet most Beatles fan’s hate it…  I checked out Streetlab’s other material and I thought a lot of it was really good.  Check out these other cool remixes:

MP3: The Beatles – Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Streetlab remix)
MP3: Beastie Boys – Sabotage (Streetlab Remix)
MP3: The Blue Van – Man Up (Streetlab VS Sean MF’in Roberts remix)
MP3: Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter (Streetlab remix)

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Once again, a recommendation that I got from Ushkow has turned into a great listening adventure.  He suggested I check out Manchester Orchestra’s new material on their myspace.  At first, I didn’t think it was anything special.  I listened at work though, so I didn’t have the volume up and wasn’t really able to get into it.  After checking it out again at home, I loved it and I’ve been listening to it all day.  Here are some of the tracks from their new album released last week, Mean Everything To Nothing.  

MP3: Manchester Orchestra – The Only One
MP3: Manchester Orchestra – I’ve Got Friends

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