New Bun B

I’ve never been any sort of a fan of Southern rap outside of Outkast. Mike Jones, No Limit, Cash Money, Scarface, Lil’ Wayne have never broughten’ me back for a second, third, forth listen. However this track from Bun B’s new album is hot. The drumline beat is a pleasant backdrop for Bun and Lupe’s verses. Toss this on your running mix.

Bun B Ft. Lupe Fiasco — Swang On Em

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Baby Hanson Has A Baby…Hanson

There could be nothing better for our 300th post…

The youngest Hanson brother, Zac, is now a father. You will recall that Z was the drummer in the spectacularly corny “breesome” (brother-threesome) Hanson. Here him jam out out in their classic corn ball:

MP3: MMMBop

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Prince vs. Radiohead: A Timeline

For context of the Prince and Radiohead copyright debate, click HERE.

1958-Prince Rogers Nelson is born

1992-Radiohead writes a song, “Creep”

1999-Coachella Music Festival is born, in southern California

April, 2008-Prince covers “Creep” at the Coachella music festival

May, 2008-Prince asks YouTube to remove video of the performance from its web site; Radiohead’s Thom York is confused.

MP3: Radiohead-Creep

MP3: Prince-Creep (Live at Coachella, 2008 )

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Lollapalooza Countdown: 63 Days-The Go! Team

One is hard pressed to find a person who came of age during the mid-90s that does not enjoy the British pop sensation The Go! Team. Why this particular demographic you might ask? Two simple words: Jock Jams. Those looking for a soundtrack for their athletic lives (which is nearly everyone in middle school) needed to turn only one place.  (Those not looking for a soundtrack were hopelessly sucked into this sports anthem mania).  The first one was released in 1995, followed by (the more superior) Jock Jams, Vol. II in 1996.

The Go! Team is Jock Jams updated to meet the adults who long for their youth. They are danceable, unrelentingly positive, and pop harder than Pop Rocks. So grab a Jolly Rancher stick, and listen to these doozies:

MP3: We Just Won’t Be Defeated (Live at KCRW)

MP3: Bottle Rocket

MP3: The Power Is On

MP3: Rednex-Cotton Eyed Joe (from Jock Jams, Vol. III)

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New Music: Jim Noir

Jim Noir is a British musician whose influences are purely ’60s, and everything that was good about them: Beatles, Beach Boys, The Byrds (also see above cover art). He’s been getting a lot of buzz lately, and for good reason. Take a listen:

MP3: Don’t You Worry

If you enjoyed that, check out Jim “Black” Noir on his MySpace page or HypeM him.

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M@M: Coldplay-Violet Hill

Here’s the official music video from Violet Hill. The song is definitely heavier and darker than much of their previous work. Quick poll: best song leaked from the new album? Check out the mp3s below and vote!

MP3: Viva La Vida

MP3: Violet Hill

MP3: Lost

MP3: Life in Technicolor

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News Beat, Patriotic Edition

CNN reporter talks of pressure to be patriotic

NEW YORK (AP) – CNN correspondent Jessica Yellin said Thursday she was referring to her time spent at MSNBC when she said she felt pressure not to report stories critical of the Bush administration during the time leading up to the Iraq war.

Yellin’s initial comments, made during a discussion with Anderson Cooper on CNN Wednesday, shifted attention to the news media’s performance following release of a critical assessment of the Bush administration by former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan. He wrote that Bush’s strategy for selling the war was less than candid and honest.

During her CNN appearance, Yellin said the press corps was under enormous pressure from corporate executives to make sure the war was presented “in a way that was consistent with the patriotic fever in the nation and the president’s high approval ratings.”

MP3: Toby Keith-Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)

MP3: Wilco-Ashes of American Flags

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Heartbreak Hotel

A few friends have gone through break-ups recently.  Surely they are not the most enjoyable of times, but vast quantities of music have been made due to them. Everyone has their favorite (or least, depending on your POV) break-up tunes.  Here are a few classics.  Feel free to add your own in the comments section.

Wilco’s I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

Bob Dylan’s Idiot Wind

The Four Tops’ Ask The Lonely

Billie Holiday’s Am I Blue?

Songs: Ohia’s Blue Chicago Moon

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying

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New Immuzikation Mash-Ups

This mystery gentleman named Alfredo Lapuz, Jr. has been e-mailing the greater mp3 blogging world lately with his works that pushes the boundaries of what is art. Taking what belongs to others and altering it to fit your taste has not been so cool since Tarantino delivered Pulp Fiction. Speaking of, check out a Pulp Fiction mp3 accompanying today’s Immuzikation releases (also vote for the guy HERE):

MP3: MGMT+Ratatat+Lykke Li+Teddy Pendgrass+The Clash+UGK-Real Weak (Immuzikation DapsBlend)

MP3: Santogold + M.I.A. – (Immuzikation HolierThanThouBlend)

MP3: Dick Dale and His Deltones-Misirlou (with dialogue opening)

Instrumental Instrumentals

With Coldplay’s new album on the tip of everyone’s tongue lately, I have to say that I am more excited for this band than I have been before. One of the things that we have been able to preview before the album comes out is the opening track, in all its instrumentality.  No lyrics, only instruments (there is one “oh-oh-oh” near the end, but it sounds like it could be an instrument in its own right).  These got me thinking about some of my favorite instrumental tunes from albums that were otherwise instrumental-free. To qualify for the list, songs had to be instrumentals from songs that had lyrics in all other (or almost all other) tunes on the album. Feel free to download below:

• Broken Social Scene’s Pacific Theme (from You Forgot It in People)
• Frank Zappa’s Peaches en Regalia (from Hot Rats)
• Coldplay’s Life in Technicolor (from Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends)
• Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline Rag (from Nashville Skyline)
• M. Ward’s Transfiguration, No. 1 (from Transfiguration of Vincent)
• Sufjan Steven’s Redford (For Yia Yia & Pappou) (from Greetings from Michigan)
• and a personal everyone’s favorite: AWB’s Pick Up The Pieces

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