flashback friday...take 2

I think I might make this whole "flashback friday" idea a regular thing. It's fun. If you don't like it don't read on Fridays. Ha.

If you can't remember the lyrics to "What I got", I'm afraid we can't be friends. I realized that it has been 13 years (as of May 25th) since Sublime lead singer Bradley Nowell died of a heroin overdose. Sublime was probably my absolute FAVORITE band from when they released the "What I Got" single until at least through 1998....I mean they're still up there now, but back then I was a little bit obsessed. I could probably still sing along with any of their songs off of their self titled major label debut album, Sublime, and at least a few other classics like 40oz to Freedom and Waiting for my Rucca. Apparently they had a reunion concert in March, but I would think that without Brad, they probably sounded like a good Sublime cover band. So, in honor of the late Bradley Nowell, here are some of my favorite Sublime tracks. Crack open some of the finest malt liquor available and enjoy.
April 22, 1992 (Miami)
40oz to Freedom
54-46/Ball and Chain
Jailhouse
What I Got
Waiting for My Ruca

Heartless Bastards live in studio

One of my new favorite bands stopped in at Luxury Wafers for an in studio performance. I dig it. You probably will too. They are pretty sweet in concert (I saw them open for The Gaslight Anthem) and you should definitely check them out if they are coming to your area...

Heartless Bastards - The Mountain - Luxury Wafers Sessions from Luxury Wafers on Vimeo.

Sway
Hold Your Head High

Smoke em if you got em....

I'm the first to admit that I am really really lazy. Which totally explains why I love music aggregating sites like the hype machine, elbows, stumbleupon, blip.fm, and pandora. I don't actually have to dig for it, the music kind of just comes right to me. Enter William Elliott Whitmore. Thanks to a friend's husband's love of Tom Waits, and Pandora's Tom Waits station, I discovered WEW. I love him. His voice is all gritty like, he writes about bums, and is just all around awesome.
Old Devils
There's Hope For You
Hell or High Water

reason #2394873 why i love stumble upon

So while Stumbling through YouTube, I came across this video. I really dig her sound. After a little more research, I found out she is signed to Jack Johnson's label (which makes sense). She will also be playing at Bonnaroo. Apparently Zee Avi was discovered via YouTube by Raconteur's drummer Patrick Keeler, who forwarded the video on, blah blah blah. Basically check her out. Her first album was just released on the 19th. You should probably buy it.
Bitter Heart -mp3
Brushfire Records
Zee Avi's Website
Find Zee Avi on Myspace

flashback friday?

Because I'm bored and my iPod was on point this morning, I decided to write up a short ode to the marvelous hip-hop of the early/mid 90's. My morning started off with Young MC's "Bust a Move", which I know isn't technically a 90's song but whatever. It made my morning SOOO much better. Then it played "Wild Thing" by Tone-Loc, but it played the Peaches remix that I have instead of the original. Kind of amazing. So here's a couple other favorite/guilty pleasures (plus a cover of Biz Markie's Just a Friend by a local band who are great....check out Tally Hall here) to get you through today and excited for the long weekend.

Just a Friend - Tally Hall
Just a Friend - Biz Markie
Humpty Dance - Digital Underground
Wild Thing (Peaches Remix) - Tone-Loc
Bust A Move - Young MC

who doesn't love the cello?

I've been meaning to write something up on Ben Sollee for a looooong time but for one reason or another haven't until now. If you've never heard of him, go to his website and buy his CD. Coolest cello playing ever. I bet if more kids heard his music there'd be a flood of little 5th graders running to learn how to play the cello. I first saw him when he was touring with Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet (they are also AMAZING and you should definitely go see them if and when they tour together again...Bela Fleck is in it if you need some added incentive...which you shouldn't) and immediately bought his album "Learning to Bend." Then he came back to Ann Arbor last month with Vienna Teng and Alex Wong (he's in The Paper Raincoat...another band you should check out) and played a solo set. He didn't disappoint at all, and I think he gained a whole bunch of new fans, as his CDs almost sold out the first night of a 2 night gig. And he's a super nice guy. And he went after how lame Kanye's gotten. And he's been working with My Morning Jacket's Jim James on an upcoming EP. So basically check this guy out. Buy his music. See him live. Read this nice little article about him.
The end.



Dear Kanye
How To See The Sun Rise
Bury Me With My Car
Mute With A Bullhorn

good rappers ain't eatin' they olson twinin'

I'm wondering why D.C. area rapper Wale hasn't completely blown up yet....his stuff is wayyyyy better than the mainstream crap that's married to the god damn AutoTune. He's been featured on a couple Roots' songs but besides that I've only been able to find a few remixes and random singles....Anyways, he's touring this summer so def check him out.

RH TV: Wale Live in Chicago pt1 from Ruby Hornet on Vimeo.

Chillin' - Wale ft. Lady Gaga
Nike Boots
w.a.l.e.d.a.n.c.e

Weezer doing MGMT and Lady Gaga

hmm. I'm still undecided on this one but check it out for yourselves....



and if you decide that you like it here's a mp3 version
Kids/Poker Face - Weezer

Things I can't get enough of lately

Ra Ra Riot- They make me happy. Buy their album and/or go see them live.
Blip.fm - check out what I'm listening to when I'm too lazy to make a post here. My DJ name is kari8306.
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - I think I'm a little slow on the uptake with them, but whatever. I've been waiting for a new voice in the blues/soul department since Otis Redding and Sam Cooke aren't going to be feeding my obsession with new material anytime soon. Raphael Saadiq kind of filled that void for a while but Black Joe Lewis has a bit more energy. I also hear they put on a great high energy show, so if they're playing near you go see them.

Can You Tell (Discovery remix) - Ra Ra Riot
Get Your Shit - Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Sugarfoot - Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
Bitch I Love You - Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
100 Yard Dash - Raphael Saadiq

lots o' new stuff

New Mos Def song form his eagerly awaited new album, The Ecstatic, which drops June 9th. He's also got some sweet new vids up on his myspace page. And Wes Miles from Ra Ra Riot and Rostam Batmanglij from Vampire Weekend collaborated to form Discovery. I like it. You will probably like it to...

Casa Bey - Mos Def
Orange Shirt - Discovery
Osaka Loop Line - Discovery

this is cool

So I've already professed my love for Radiohead multiple times, as well as my occasional love of mashups, remixes, and things of that sort. I came across this thanks to StumbleUpon (seriously the greatest thing ever...). The guy that does these mashups has a whole slew of them, most of them are pretty good, but this is by far my favorite. Be sure to check out the website for more cool sounds...


Radiohead vs. Dave Brubeck - mp3

things i like

So I FINALLY got my copy of Bob Dylan's new album in the mail on Friday (woohoo!). I'm not a huge fan of all the songs but I would say the majority of the album lives up to the hype. His voice sounds pretty rough throughout the album, but he seems to know the limits of it and kind of speak sings his way through the songs, and it works. I'm drawn to the more bluesy tracks on the album, but I think that's just the kind of mood I've been in lately. All in all, I think this album definitely is worth buying...just give it a few listens and you'll be hooked!
It's All Good
Forgetful Heart

In other news, I've been turned on to the band Deer Tick. A friend listens to them and thought I'd enjoy their sound. Long story short; they're awesome. They rocked out at SXSW this year and have a new album dropping June 23rd, but their album "War Elephant" is out now and I highly recommend buying it if you enjoy the kind of Alt/Indie/Country sound. They will also be touring with some of my other fav groups Jenny Lewis and the Heartless Bastards. I'm sure that would be a GREAT concert.
Art Isn't Real (City of Sin) - Deer Tick
Ashamed - Deer Tick
Jack Killed Mom - Jenny Lewis
Out At Sea - Heartless Bastards