The Mix-Up

Keeping on the Jewish kick, I freakin love the Beastie Boys. We're talkin about three jewish white guys from NYC who took the rap world by storm in the mid 80's. First criticized by critics and hip hop musicians for being cultural pirates of sorts (especially because of thier beginnings as a punk band in 1981), the Beastie's forged their own way and created a new post-punk, funky, psychadelic, pop, hip-hop sound that influenced a generation. Liscence to Ill was a surprising hit that paved the way for what I believe to be their best album, Paul's Boutique. And although this LP did not recieve the accolades as its predecesor (in addition to it being a completely different sound), it did produce the ecclectic, freewheeling style that they are now known for. Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and Hello Nasty followed and were equally awesome and influential. They also released a jazzy, funky, exploratory instumental album in there called The In Sound From Way Out which I thought was great.

This leads me to thier new release, The Mix Up, which to be honest, I'm surprised hasn't gotten more attention. Also an instrumental album, it showcases the BBoys musical skills, as they flow through numerous catchy grooves, and endless jazz and funk fused rhythms. There's even a touch of reggae thrown in there. Great music to just chill, or be putzing around the house to. check it.

download: B For My Name

download: Off the Grid

download: The Cousin of Death

Couldn't post some Beastie's with out one of the classics. Here's one of my favorites off of Paul's Boutique:

download: Car Thief

Festival of Light and Dead

Happy Hanukkah!

Before all the hoopla begins for the Christmas music phenomenon, lets celebrate Hanukkah. But alas, there are not many songs for the festival of light (besides the Hanukkah Song penned by none other than Adam Sandler, but that's been played out). So intead, I thought I'd bring you a story.

I recently recieved this story from my uncle Jay and it really made me think.

"Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right".

Story: Light in the strangest of places

Very eloquent words from a master of his craft. Think about it and you will realize that it is an endlessly positive message. Perfect for the Hanukkah season. Even in the darkest time of the year, there's always a light. So in response to this, I went searching for my favorite version of Scarlet Begonias. I sieved through endless bootlegs and archival releases to inevitably fall back on this version from the Dead's infamous show at Cornell University's Barton Hall. You can just feel the energy oozing from this cut. There's no denying for me that this show is my all-time favorite, and it is also known universally as one of the Dead's best live performances. Ever. The tone, timing, and emotion are all flowing in unison on this night and the band is really 'hitting the note'. Love it. Live it. Here it is from Ithaca, NY on May 8th, 1977:

mp3: Scarlet Begonias

Plus, as my uncle Jay put it, "Just goes to show, we are everywhere. Jews and Deadheads!"

Dub Mule

Praise to the most be high. Mighty High.

The recently released Mighty High, from the likes of the longstanding legends of the jam band scene, Gov't Mule, is a solid, refreshingly cool album (herb not included). It has beed drawn straight from the vein of the Easy Star All-Stars' Dub Side of the Moon and more recent Radiodread albums. This classic, dub style, dub wise LP comes as a welcome surprise for Mule fans, who know that dubbed out, reggae infused jams are a staple of thier live shows. Mule invokes the inner Rastafari, so be sure to roll your own.

download: I'm a Ram

You've got to love the 1st track, the Al Green classic, I'm a Ram, which by the way was the original recording, taken from the High and Mighty sessions. Apparently, latenight, during the 1st take of this song, lightning struck the studio (unbeknowest to the band). Upon entering the control room they were informed that the tape machine and bass amp were damaged in the process. As a result, they could not record it again, nor could they listen to what they just recorded! Pretty crazy. They took that as some sort of sign and decided to not take any more takes.

download: Rebel With a Cause

Rebel With a Cause is a special dub mix of Mule's "Unring the Bell", featuring vocals and lyrics by reggae legend Willi Williams. This is great, especially because, Willi's 1978 smash hit single, Armagideon Time, is a Mule cover waiting to happen.

download: The Shape I'm In

They also play a rich version of the Band's The Shape I'm In. Originally recorded as their contribution to The Band tribute album Endless Highway, this was a natural addition to Mighty High. The band took a completely different approach to the song, resulting in a funky, creole style, psychedelic acid jazz boogaloo jam featuring Danny Louis on trumpet. awesome.

download: Play With Fire

The Rolling Stones' Play with Fire sounds like Lee Scratch Perry was doing the mixing, the production is stuffed with so much of his classic dub stylings. It was recorded at the Beacon Theatre during the "Dub Side of the Mule" show on 12/31/06. Michael Franti's freestyle vocals were taken from his guest appearances with Gov't Mule at Bonnaroo and Mountain Jam. Fire is the theme. They do a great job.

So sit back, relax and let the irie vibes take control.

Straight from the Garden state

I remember catching a band called From Good Homes in Waterloo Village, NJ back in 1998. These local northwest NJ cats were huge around the area but also hit it fairly big nationally around the same time. Unfortunately, the band was around for only a couple more years and broke up in early 2001. What emerged following was the creation of a jam/bluegrass supergroup of sorts called Railroad Earth. The group balanced the edge of traditional bluegrass and the jamband tradition to produce an eclectic combination of folk, rock, and jazz; all with a bluegrass feel. With frequent stints at the Telluride Bluegrass Fest, High Sierra Music Fest, as well as the Fox Theater in Boulder, CO, Railroad Earth manifested that they were a band to be reckoned with. The band released the live “Elko” in 2006 and this effort really revealed the high energy and amazing musicianship that their live shows can bring. Got a chance to catch them for a third time last night at the Sherman Theater in East Stroudsburg, PA. Awesome show.

mighty river (live) (from "Elko")

Old 97's

Classic tune from the bad boys of alt/rock/country. Blistering lyrics and awesome guitar riffs accompany Rhett Miller's sweet croon. love this tune.

dressing room walls

test

Inspiration: music for the unwashed and well read

So, anyway, here it goes. Music is elemental. There is music all around us; There are those that channel this phenomenon and these feats are nothing short of amazing. This blog will pay tribute to the uttmost creators of the musical art form. Whether its a straight good groove, kickass lyrics, or simply sheer energy, music has the power to move us all.

One band that always comes to mind is dem good ol boys, The Gourds. Remember back in the day, when the free downloads of the Napster era were frequent and rampant, you downloaded a bluegrass cover of Snoop Dogg's Gin and Juice? You know what I'm talking about. This cover was widely distributed but incorrectly labeled as being played by Phish or other jam bands. They are Austin, Texas' own, The Gourds, and as my friend once said "I freakin love the Gourds". Those are 100% my thoughts exactly. The Gourds are awsome. Gourds music, as it has come to be known, has a loose, earthy, down-home, high energy feel that is difficult to categorize. They have a spectacular tandem of lyricists in Kevin Russel and Jimmy Smith. Their witty, ironic, reference-laden prose lift them to a prestigious level of songwriting. Most fans will tell you that you are either a Jimmy or a Kevin fan and there is some truth to that fact. One will most definately lean slightly towards one or the other. Whichever way you lean though, there's no denying the fact that you love both.

They recently released Noble Creatures, the Gourds tenth full length LP, in which they made an album not quite like any of their others. Things do, although, stay the course that has brewed and fermented the Gourds sound from the beginning; Like clockwork the Gourds have, on every album, had an almost strikingly even ratio of Jimmy and Kevin songs. This balance combined with thier creative differences come together in a musically chemical anomoly that creates beautifully free-flowing LP's. From thier humble beginnings in 1997's Dems Good Beeble, through 2006's Heavy Ornamentals and now Noble Creatures, thier albums are exciting and spellbounding.

It is music for the unwashed and well read, and generally The Gourds are one the most enjoyable bands I have ever heard. They embody all that is good . Here's a couple of my favorites (2 Kevin and 2 Jimmy songs by the way; a well balanced post). Let go and enjoy.......

from Noble Creatures
Spivey


from Blood of the Ram
Cracklins


from Dems Good Beeble
When Wine Was Cheap


from Cow Fish Fowl or Pig
Bottle and a Dime




By the way, a friend of mine has a great blog and he has subsequently and indirectly led me to create one of my own. Check his blog out: http://grocerystorefeet.blogspot.com/