First two tracks (this is two song i jammed into one file) on Blake's forthcoming debut full length. London dude has put out a handful of well regarded EPs. Electronic music/dude kinda sounds like Antony but not as overwrought/more R&B influenced/kinda a throwback to 05/06 sounds warm clicky tones with additional deepness of more modern bass. Sounds great to me!
Slight shades of D. Lo on his vocals for me...I heard some stuff about this dude but never listened to any of his music. I like it! Good for a rainy day in the office in downtown Portland.
A couple weeks ago Mike McGonigal posted a track from this late 90s electronic band on facebook which made me remember how much I loved their only full length album they released, "For Beginner Piano." Twas three dudes using analogue synths and making music that was perfect for soundtracks/video games but not in a pre 8 bit revival way. The composition level was strong and it doesn't feel like pure novelty.
Try "Top and Low Rent" for something that sounds straight out of Zelda level but there are others that aren't as intensely video gamey.
One of the all time underrated bands ever. The core of Redd Kross is Jeff & Steve, the McDonald brothers and they started the band when they were in middle school('78-'80). It was originally Red Cross before the human aid organization made them change the name. They made pop culture referencing bratty punk. They had songs called "Linda Blair," "Annette's Got The Hits" (Annette Funnicello), and "Tatum O'Tot and the Fried Vegetables" (Tatum O'Neal).
Over some years their sound evolved and they became a power pop band. They are one of those groups that love other music so much they cannot contain it and you can here it in their music (in a good way). Melodic songwriting + big dumb rock (done in a smart way + for the right reasons) + guitar solos + harmony + some killer ballads + not afraid of goofiness. They are a celebration of rock. In the 90s they did have some songs that got a fair amount of airplay on alternative rock/college radio stations and had videos on MTV.
They had a side project in the 80s called the Tater Totz, and one in the early 00s called Ze Malibu Kids with one of their wives and one daughter. Steve of the brothers recorded with and toured as the bassist for Sparks. He's also in a new band with Keith Morris of the Circle Jerks called OFF! which is getting a lot of positive attention. They both have produced a bunch of records for other bands like Imperial Teen, Shonen Knife, and The Donnas.
They basically are LA rock'n'roll (punk/pop/rock/beyond) of the last 30 years.
In some earlier iteration of UHX I posted some of the Ze Malibu Kids TV show. I thought it was pretty special. I'll see if I can find it again. It was kind of 'off' like when milk is still kind of OK (maybe) even though it is five days past the pull date....
MNDR (Amanda Warner from Lewis & Clark!) deconstructs this salsa classic and uses the iconic grimy trombone line and turns it into an intense (changing tempo) Chicago style footwork dance floor workout. Minimal and maxi at the same time.
Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. feat. MNDR & Q-Tip - Bang Bang Bang
MNDR double dip. Mark Ronson is a big time Producer and DJ (the man behind Amy Winehouse). This single is from his 3rd solo record released last summer. Love this mid tempo stepper!
Big Audio Dynamite is Mick Jones' post-The Clash band. Starting in 84 the project was always about bringing together punk, reggae, dance, new wave sounds. Totally weird band! It's super interesting that members of the Sex Pistols and The Clash both went on to be in bands that were almost more adventurous than their big punk bands (Public Image Limited, which really reminds me in some aspects of the K5M project and Big Audio Dynamite).
I think a lot of the stuff in "Rush" and "The Globe" is samples from The Clash, which is SO WEIRD.
Early in their career they used lots of samples from movies.
BAD started in '84 after Mick Jones was kicked out of The Clash.
Both "The Globe" and "Rush" are from '90/'91 when they were actually known as Big Audio Dynamite II.
Stuff from all over their career is good though.
This is from their first album and I really like this one and I went back and forth between this and "The Globe" about which should be SSOTD.
Here's another one from the first album called "E=MC2" that people really like.
Here's one from 88 that is unlike anything I've ever heard (fast electro beat/sorta pretty slow afro-caribbean style guitar melody/mid-tempo spoken song ballad vocally)
Extended versions and dub versions of most of these songs were also released. FUN BAND!
This was the first song ever released by Bad Boy Records in early 1994. I remember listening to it in Geometry class and being pretty blown away between the difference in this and the West Coast G Funk that was dominating the airwaves/rap game at the time. I like how they refer to it as "futuristic" sounding in the song and now it sounds pretty "old school." Time changes everything. There is also a great remix of this song which was the first time I heard Notorious B.I.G.
Start your Saturday with some spazz out indie rock from 1993! I saw this band in 94 at the cool all ages venue in LA and it totally got me so pumped on weird music, maybe not weird music, but that music didn't have to always sound the same and be the same length. They change speeds, use weird tunings. Sounds like some combo of early Pavement (Westing), Sonic Youth, Sun City Girls, Chokebore. It has teeth but isn't menacing. This song is from the album "Spasm Smash XXXOXOX Ox and Ass" John Peel played their entire first album on his radio show in 93. The band moved to Portland later in the 90s. They play every once in a while, and of course are more popular in Europe.
French freaks! This song makes me freak out! These guys have been consistently putting out great weird dancey electronic music for 10+ years now. LOVE THEM.
Canadian sisters doing folky classic rocky poppy things. This is from '82 from an album called "Love Over and Over." I'm just getting into these guys and I'm thankful for it.
The Vibrating Vibrations - Surprise Party for Baby
From LA. From the late 50s to the mid 70s. Recorded under various names including The Jayhawks and The Vibrations. This is from 1970 and became a hit in the British Northern Soul scene in 1971.
It goes into great detail about throwing a surprise party! ITS GOOD!
A crazy amazing sad story behind this lady's life. Father was a exotic animal importer (animals for films) and her Dad and brother both died in separate accidents. Opened for Crosby Stills Nash. First artist signed by David Geffen. Great songs. Christian themes. After two albums dropped out, car accident, got hooked on drugs and OD'd.
FLASPAR! The great Las Vegas ---> Portland experimental rock band that has had a bunch of lineups throughout the last 10 years with Cody Brant being the constant. Ever changing, always interesting featured Manny from Atole as the singer for a period, and a long stretch with the the amazing Rebecca Carlisle-Healy this track is sung (and written by I believe) Spencer Kingman aka Spenking and is about Mormonism! It's from a 7"!
New dude from NJ making instrumental jams that are supposed to last longer than forever. There's clearly an influence from Ratatat but does a good job of not being derivative and being its own thing. Pretty good record!
Woah. So THIS is what Delicate Steve sounds like. Pretty good! Kinda up my alley! Combines my love of IDM, beats, melody, Americana-style lap steel (or pedal steel, or whatever that's called), and UK Jazz.
My initial reaction after the first few songs: I think the music is generally pretty tasteful, but occasionally veers into "wanky guitar solo" territory. I can deal with that for a bit, but that's the danger of bands like this, I suppose.
Uploading from the Elms Motel in Bishop, CA! A remix/edit of one of the great underrated songs by the great Mac. Christine McVie (she's the McCartney of Mac!)
The greatest hook man ever in hip hop. RIP. He brought melody to rap. He was the driving force behind so many hits. Had a criminally underrated solo album ("Music and Me")
He was the clean up hitter in the pinnacle of rap genius producing/songwriting. The Next Episode from Dre's Chronic 2001
A blues dude from Mississippi, he moved to Chicago and made a bunch of soul/r&b records. A box set of a lot of his stuff recently came out, and I'm totally devouring it. I didn't know about him until recently. I wanted to pick a funkier track, but this one's cool pleasant stride spoke to me. He has a daughter, Syleena Johnson, who has put out a bunch of albums and been on Kanye West songs and stuff like that.
This guy was the main producer in the group The Pack (you remember their hit Bay Area rap song "Vans"). Respect to Mr. Forkner for bringing this song to my attention. Great beat. Also, "When I'm in Portland I ball like Roy."
Whoops looks like I was thinking it was 2010 for the last 3 or so songs.
Madonna - Live To Tell
Emotional ballad from mid 80s Madonna! So good! From the insanely great "True Blue" album.
This song was uploaded from a plane in the skies! I'm trying to watch the final four game streaming and it was working well but then stopped working well.
I'm gonna be out of town for awhile and without quick access to my big hard drive of music, so I somewhat pre-emptively compiled the new SSOTD collection. 25 songs.
Volume 13 of the UrbanHonking Secret Song of the Day
Comments
James Blake - Unluck/Wilhelm's Scream
First two tracks (this is two song i jammed into one file) on Blake's forthcoming debut full length. London dude has put out a handful of well regarded EPs. Electronic music/dude kinda sounds like Antony but not as overwrought/more R&B influenced/kinda a throwback to 05/06 sounds warm clicky tones with additional deepness of more modern bass. Sounds great to me!
Plone - Bibi Plone
A couple weeks ago Mike McGonigal posted a track from this late 90s electronic band on facebook which made me remember how much I loved their only full length album they released, "For Beginner Piano." Twas three dudes using analogue synths and making music that was perfect for soundtracks/video games but not in a pre 8 bit revival way. The composition level was strong and it doesn't feel like pure novelty.
Try "Top and Low Rent" for something that sounds straight out of Zelda level but there are others that aren't as intensely video gamey.
Redd Kross - One Chord Progression
One of the all time underrated bands ever. The core of Redd Kross is Jeff & Steve, the McDonald brothers and they started the band when they were in middle school('78-'80). It was originally Red Cross before the human aid organization made them change the name. They made pop culture referencing bratty punk. They had songs called "Linda Blair," "Annette's Got The Hits" (Annette Funnicello), and "Tatum O'Tot and the Fried Vegetables" (Tatum O'Neal).
Over some years their sound evolved and they became a power pop band. They are one of those groups that love other music so much they cannot contain it and you can here it in their music (in a good way). Melodic songwriting + big dumb rock (done in a smart way + for the right reasons) + guitar solos + harmony + some killer ballads + not afraid of goofiness. They are a celebration of rock. In the 90s they did have some songs that got a fair amount of airplay on alternative rock/college radio stations and had videos on MTV.
They had a side project in the 80s called the Tater Totz, and one in the early 00s called Ze Malibu Kids with one of their wives and one daughter.
Steve of the brothers recorded with and toured as the bassist for Sparks. He's also in a new band with Keith Morris of the Circle Jerks called OFF! which is getting a lot of positive attention.
They both have produced a bunch of records for other bands like Imperial Teen, Shonen Knife, and The Donnas.
They basically are LA rock'n'roll (punk/pop/rock/beyond) of the last 30 years.
Early punk vibes:
Here they are performing on The Jon Stewart Show:
Do you mean in the way that everything that has ever happened before now looks dumb?
Do you mean the traditional talk show format looks dumb?
It was a cool show. I used to watch it!
Bart Davenport -Intertwine
NorCal dude of modern times who is a perfect mimic of the sounds of 70s folk. His albums are really good!
Hector Lavoe & Willie Colon - La Murga (MNDR Wholestep RMX)
MNDR (Amanda Warner from Lewis & Clark!) deconstructs this salsa classic and uses the iconic grimy trombone line and turns it into an intense (changing tempo) Chicago style footwork dance floor workout. Minimal and maxi at the same time.
Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. feat. MNDR & Q-Tip - Bang Bang Bang
MNDR double dip. Mark Ronson is a big time Producer and DJ (the man behind Amy Winehouse). This single is from his 3rd solo record released last summer. Love this mid tempo stepper!
Big Audio Dynamite - The Globe
Big Audio Dynamite is Mick Jones' post-The Clash band. Starting in 84 the project was always about bringing together punk, reggae, dance, new wave sounds. Totally weird band! It's super interesting that members of the Sex Pistols and The Clash both went on to be in bands that were almost more adventurous than their big punk bands (Public Image Limited, which really reminds me in some aspects of the K5M project and Big Audio Dynamite).
That would be "Rush"
I think a lot of the stuff in "Rush" and "The Globe" is samples from The Clash, which is SO WEIRD.
Early in their career they used lots of samples from movies.
BAD started in '84 after Mick Jones was kicked out of The Clash.
Both "The Globe" and "Rush" are from '90/'91 when they were actually known as Big Audio Dynamite II.
Stuff from all over their career is good though.
This is from their first album and I really like this one and I went back and forth between this and "The Globe" about which should be SSOTD.
Here's another one from the first album called "E=MC2" that people really like.
Here's one from 88 that is unlike anything I've ever heard (fast electro beat/sorta pretty slow afro-caribbean style guitar melody/mid-tempo spoken song ballad vocally)
Extended versions and dub versions of most of these songs were also released.
FUN BAND!
Volume 12 of the UrHo Secret Song of the Day has been compiled and uploaded.
Download it here:
http://www.urbanhonking.com/song/SSOTD12.zip
(all past collections available at same URL just change the volume #)
30 more songs. The SSOTD project now is 428 songs big. I'm looking forward to 500!
This is a great group of songs if i do say so myself!
music is sexy
Circle Jerks - World Up My Ass
from the 1980 album Group Sex.
Los Angeles Punk
Hardcore guitar solos are so great
because hardcore is the anti-guitar solo genre
and hardcore is the style that loves to hate!
Craig Mack - Flava in ya Ear
This was the first song ever released by Bad Boy Records in early 1994. I remember listening to it in Geometry class and being pretty blown away between the difference in this and the West Coast G Funk that was dominating the airwaves/rap game at the time. I like how they refer to it as "futuristic" sounding in the song and now it sounds pretty "old school." Time changes everything. There is also a great remix of this song which was the first time I heard Notorious B.I.G.
West vs. East starts here.
Calvin Johnson - Rabbit Blood
The MAN. From his wildly underrated "Before The Dream Faded..." which features some of Calvin's best songs and best recordings ever.
Trumans Water - Speeds Exceeding
Start your Saturday with some spazz out indie rock from 1993! I saw this band in 94 at the cool all ages venue in LA and it totally got me so pumped on weird music, maybe not weird music, but that music didn't have to always sound the same and be the same length. They change speeds, use weird tunings. Sounds like some combo of early Pavement (Westing), Sonic Youth, Sun City Girls, Chokebore. It has teeth but isn't menacing.
This song is from the album "Spasm Smash XXXOXOX Ox and Ass"
John Peel played their entire first album on his radio show in 93.
The band moved to Portland later in the 90s. They play every once in a while, and of course are more popular in Europe.
Max Tundra - Lights
ALL TIME. One of the all time jams from one of the all time great albums of the last decade by one of the all time great electronic musician dudes.
Sade - Turn My Back On You
SADE DEEP CUTS!
From the 1988 album "Stronger Than Pride." Funky stepper!
Dat Politics - Dizzy Zip
French freaks! This song makes me freak out! These guys have been consistently putting out great weird dancey electronic music for 10+ years now. LOVE THEM.
XTC - Smokeless Zone
This is a band that I'm just starting to understand the shape of. Lots of releases, very well regarded songwriting. New wave era from England.
Kate and Anna McGarrigle - Moon Over Moon
Canadian sisters doing folky classic rocky poppy things. This is from '82 from an album called "Love Over and Over." I'm just getting into these guys and I'm thankful for it.
This song is a trip.
The Vibrating Vibrations - Surprise Party for Baby
From LA. From the late 50s to the mid 70s. Recorded under various names including The Jayhawks and The Vibrations. This is from 1970 and became a hit in the British Northern Soul scene in 1971.
It goes into great detail about throwing a surprise party! ITS GOOD!
Howard Jones - No One Is To Blame
I was reminded of this song during this weeks live version of Conversations by Gary Lacrosse. The chorus is incredible. I can't stop singing it.
Judee Sill - The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown
A crazy amazing sad story behind this lady's life. Father was a exotic animal importer (animals for films) and her Dad and brother both died in separate accidents. Opened for Crosby Stills Nash. First artist signed by David Geffen. Great songs. Christian themes. After two albums dropped out, car accident, got hooked on drugs and OD'd.
Flaspar - Double Trouble
FLASPAR! The great Las Vegas ---> Portland experimental rock band that has had a bunch of lineups throughout the last 10 years with Cody Brant being the constant. Ever changing, always interesting featured Manny from Atole as the singer for a period, and a long stretch with the the amazing Rebecca Carlisle-Healy this track is sung (and written by I believe) Spencer Kingman aka Spenking and is about Mormonism! It's from a 7"!
Delicate Steve - Butterfly
New dude from NJ making instrumental jams that are supposed to last longer than forever. There's clearly an influence from Ratatat but does a good job of not being derivative and being its own thing. Pretty good record!
Album streaming at http://delicatesteve.bandcamp.com/
My initial reaction after the first few songs: I think the music is generally pretty tasteful, but occasionally veers into "wanky guitar solo" territory. I can deal with that for a bit, but that's the danger of bands like this, I suppose.
Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere (Psychemagik edit)
Uploading from the Elms Motel in Bishop, CA!
A remix/edit of one of the great underrated songs by the great Mac. Christine McVie (she's the McCartney of Mac!)
Young Marble Giants - Brand _ New _ Life
Sometimes Sundays are minimal.
The Stanley Brothers - Standing in the Need of Prayer
Nate Dogg - Get Up (feat. Eve)
The greatest hook man ever in hip hop.
RIP.
He brought melody to rap.
He was the driving force behind so many hits.
Had a criminally underrated solo album ("Music and Me")
He was the clean up hitter in the pinnacle of rap genius producing/songwriting.
The Next Episode from Dre's Chronic 2001
Syl Johnson - One Way Ticket To Nowhere
A blues dude from Mississippi, he moved to Chicago and made a bunch of soul/r&b records. A box set of a lot of his stuff recently came out, and I'm totally devouring it. I didn't know about him until recently. I wanted to pick a funkier track, but this one's cool pleasant stride spoke to me. He has a daughter, Syleena Johnson, who has put out a bunch of albums and been on Kanye West songs and stuff like that.
Wet Ones - Wya Duck
Its a new project from E*Rock and Bobby Birdman!
Young L - Loud Pockets
This guy was the main producer in the group The Pack (you remember their hit Bay Area rap song "Vans"). Respect to Mr. Forkner for bringing this song to my attention.
Great beat.
Also, "When I'm in Portland I ball like Roy."
Jherek Bischoff vs. Konono No. 1 - Kule Kule
The great Jherek Bischoff's arrangement/cover of a section of the great Konono song.
Whoops looks like I was thinking it was 2010 for the last 3 or so songs.
Madonna - Live To Tell
Emotional ballad from mid 80s Madonna! So good! From the insanely great "True Blue" album.
This song was uploaded from a plane in the skies!
I'm trying to watch the final four game streaming and it was working well but then stopped working well.
Cajmere - Percolator
1992 Chicago/Detroit
David Axelrod - Holy Thursday
25 songs.
Volume 13 of the UrbanHonking Secret Song of the Day
Download it here:
http://www.urbanhonking.com/song/SSOTD13.zip