Gotta go to Work

This jam really works well when played first thing in the morning en route to my job on a Monday morning. Or whatever morning. Rest in peace Guru. The king of monotone. There's a shortage of MC's such of his talent these days.

M.I.A.

So I've been missing in action over the past few weeks. No matter how many times I say it, I have to make an effort to post more frequently. This effort will no doubt only last a few weeks at a time as it normally does. C'est la vie.

I meant to post this in time for the Mission of Burma show a few days ago..but as I not only missed the band's first Dallas appearance ever, I figured what the hey, might as well miss covering their importance and lasting influence in the post-punk world of music over the last three decades. What can be said about them that hasn't already been written time and time again during the band's resurgence over the last few years? Their art-punk, alternating tunings, unsettling chord structures, etc, etc. This all chalks up to entries in my favorite band's repertoire. And I'll just leave it at that. The opening bassline to this song is probably repeated in my head at least once a week now, as it is probably the best opening bass riff I have ever heard in my entire lifetime. I don't have much energy these days, but when this comes into play on my stereo or what have you,...I don't know, I get amped for some reason. I feel kind of, but not unlike Emilio Estevez a la The Breakfast Club, after partaking in typical teenage drug use and then proceeding to dance the upper level of the school library until the adrenaline wears off and windows have shattered...

Electronic Renaissance

I'm taking a break from my regular 10 part series entitled "My Summer Album Days" to bring you this special announcement. Well, it's niether special or an announcement really. Just a new song from New Jersey electro artist Com Truise. The new album, entitled Galactic Melt, doesn't really stand out from his previous work, but it does have a few gems. I can attest from personal experience, writing electronic music and retaining some originality isn't as easy as it sounds. So I do have a newfound respect for the process.

My Summer Album Days Part 4

When it comes to Mr. Richman's vast library of works, from early Modern Lovers, to his last album that dropped last year, picking any favorite is not unlike picking out what to eat at a breakfast buffet. Everything is good in it's own way, but as I'm keeping up my summer album theme, it was a tough choice between Having a Party or this masterpiece, Te Vas A Emocionar!. But I had to go with the latter. I don't know what it is about Jonathan doing solo acoustic Spanish renditions of his various works, but it is in a realm of summer beauty all in it's own. Try listening to "No Mas Por Fun" (a rendition of "Just For Fun" duh) in the midst of dreary January snow days....it just doesn't work for me. These are hot weather staples for me. Tuly enjoyable. As all of his stuff usually is.

My Summer Album Days Part 3

I think perhaps Miltons' most essential album, Clube Da Esquina as far as I am concerned, reaches my top summer albums list solely because I first picked it up in the peak of June summer heat. It certainly calls for lazy indoor escapism and air conditioning to accompany some of my favorite tracks from this classic album. I think really, whenever I first encounter an album or film or what have you, the time period I discovered it is enevitably captured and stored in my RAM to be recollected when I enjoy said album or film. But that's just me. I could patio up this album for days on end. Key tracks for me include the following: