Minimalism, Early 1990s

Del 'Catch A Bad One' (1993)

Scarface 'Money and the Power' (1992)

Mobb Deep 'Shook Ones Pt. II' (1995)

Festival Rock y Ruedas de Avándaro, 1971

In early May of this year, Kindling and I went to watch her sister graduate from the fine institution of RISD. I was terribly sick and finding myself at a college party the first night I attempted to counteract my sickness with a healthy amount of George Dickel Whiskey. Anyone familiar with this product will know that this didn't work. I am intimately familiar with hangovers but I have never felt worse than I did the next day. As such, the commencement speech by Lauri Anderson that morning was less than exhilarating.
In all honesty I've never meet a more charming family but making it through a celebratory dinner with the O'Rourkes that evening was challenging. At any rate, all weekend, for reasons that I think are clear, the phrase Mexican Hippie pervaded my already sensitive consciousness.
Festival Rock y Ruedas de Avándaro, September 11th & 12th, 1971. Toluca, Estado de Mexico.
Rock y Ruedas performers Los Dug Dugs
Get it Here

The Cosmic Body, 1975

For our 1 year anniversary (June 22) Molly got me several incredible gifts, one of which was this bafflingly amazing book, The Cosmic Body: The Creative Evolution of Intelligent Energy by Peter Davis. Apparently she had to haggle quite a bit at Spoonbill & Sugartown as it was originally not priced. While mostly new age philosophy (and poetry), the visuals leave me speechless. Though I haven't fully read it, in my brief overview I can't help notice how much Deleuze & Guattari often mirror the ramblings of new age California hippies, or rather teachings of the "cosmic life energy tradition" as noted on the back of the book.

Wah Lay

Put this in the category of posts that should of happened two months ago- I finally got around to downloading Wale's The Mixtape about Nothing and I haven't stop listening to it since. Far too much in there to write about so I will suggest that in the off chance you don't already have it, get it now! Especially if you love Kanye but feel his cleverness (or his ghostwriters') far outshines his delivery and it always leaves you a bit disappointed (as it does me). The Kramer, his song about the Michael Richards incident is particularly brilliant; Wale manages to tackle the subject and the n-word deftly while avoiding the usual trappings. A mixtape themed around Seinfeld with Bun B, Pusha T, Lil Wayne, and Chris Partlow (Wale's cousin) shout outs is already aces but Wale's verses alone are extraordinary.
Wale - The Mixtape about Nothing (2008) Part 1. Part 2.

Twins. Prayers. Rejoice.

To mark this special day, I put a few songs together about twins, children, prayers, and overall rejoice! Its a pretty standard dmp affair; the usual suspects are represented (clipse, ac, dp's) and some personal 'oldies' came out of hiding (manitoba, solvent). To say some if it is twee is an understatement but I suppose that is only fitting. Here is the intended song order. Once in iTunes they will probably be out of order (sorry) so may be adjust the track numbers, but feel free to enjoy it however you see fit!

Prayers for Twins
1. we all together - children
2. manitoba - kids you'll move mountains
3. velvet underground - i'm sticking with you
4. dirty projectors - two young sheeps
5. animal collective - we tigers
6. clipse - young boy
7. solvent - tonka truck
8. the people's victory orchestra and chorus - children's anthem (let us sing a love song)
9. odetta - this little light of mine
10. malvina reynolds - love is something (the magic penny)
11. free design - lullaby
12. this heat - sleep

Pete Seeger's Rainbow Quest (1965-66) Pt. 1

In the mid 1960's Pete Seeger hosted a low budget television program, Rainbow Quest, in which he invited various blues, folk, and old-time musicians to perform. The Johnny Cash appearance gets a lot of play, but it is the performances by Elizabeth Cotton, Reverend Gary Davis, and Mississippi John Hurt that are absolute treasurers. While this is truly a singular moment in American history, my hope is that we will soon see Kanye West's Rainbow Quest with a similarly low budget. Don't sleep!

Mississippi John Hurt You Got to Walk that Lonesome Valley

Reverend Gary Davis Oh Glory, How Happy I Am (With two young Hippies watching, Donovan & Shawn Phillips. The song doesn't get going until a few minutes in, but don't miss it. )

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee Easy Rider

Elizabeth Cotton Freight Train

Latest Reasons for Pushing Forward

Paavoharju - Laulu Laakson Kukista (2008)
Heavy Eye of the Sun - II (2006)
Wooden Wand & the Vanishing Voice - Gipsy Freedom (2006)
Valet - Naked Acid (2008)
Mississippi John Hurt - Today! (1966)
boomp3.com
It amazes me that at the age of 28 I am just discovering the music of Mississippi John Hurt. Every song on this record is an exceptional auditory space.

Compulsory Lil Weezy Post (with Lean)

I really should have posted this Tuesday when Tha Carter III dropped but oh well. Irrational as it may be, I feel a responsibility to post about Lil Wayne this week. The hype has been realdiculous and surely haters will hate but there's no denying his talent. While not the "Best Rapper Alive" I think Lil Wayne is certainly in the top 5. In my 20 plus years of listening to Hip Hop, no rapper has ever approximated Weezy's melodic delivery and complex inflections. While this throwed version of I Feel Like Dying comes dangerously close to being cheeseball, I can't help but find it hypnotic. All praise Weezy!
PS An obscene amount of Lil Wayne recordings can be found HERE

Hairdryer Peace, 2008

Lately it strikes me that language fails miserably when attempting to describe or muse on Noise/Psych music. From reading blogs and reviews, I can reach no other conclusion. All too often they are filled with cliches like "totally damaged" "psych bombs" "sonic noise fuck-fest" "pure headfuck" etc.

This might well be for the best. After all, psychedelia and the concurrent search for transcendental bliss inherent to noise music, is in many regards a rejection of modernity's adherence to logocentrism, historic linearity, rationalism, and individualism. The more meaningless the terms to describe the experience, the more important actually listening and experiencing is.

And let me be the first to admit, these meaningless cliches don't deter my interest. After being thoroughly inundated, I spend several weeks trying to track down a copy of The Hospitals new garage/noise 'album of the year' Hairdryer Peace, no easy task given that only 500 LPs were self pressed and sold out immediately. Last week I finally located a digital copy. In searching, my favorite description of the record came from a comment left on a blog - "They don't make acid strong enough for these jams. fuckin sick."

LSD or not, this record feels quite special, spectacular in fact. Rather than tell you how "ass blasting" it is, I will forsake language and post a few pictures related to the tracks. The more adventurous among you can obtain a copy HERE.
The Hospitals
A1 Hairdryer Peace
A2 Getting out of Bed
A6 Sour Hawaii
B2 Animals Act Natural
B7 Don't Die

4.25.08 Fuck the Police (J.Dilla)