Hey everybody! Guess what?...It's Tuesday! And I'm not sure what that means to you, but for me it ment, "Johnny, get off your ass and make some damn music!"
No flowery language today...no updates on yesterday's accomplishments (cause all I really did was wake up, and swim a mile)...just some new mash-ups I pumped out today.
As with yesterday's mix, I didn't really have a theme, or a vision for what I was trying to go for, I just knew I wanted to make some strange things work together...and I think I just might have accomplished that.
So without further yammering about nothing, here they are...
"Rhymes-Jackson Marriage"
Gold Panda-Marriage + Busta Rhymes feat. Janet Jackson - What's It Gonna Be?
"Caged Up, Doin' Time, Wasting Away"
Alias-Caged Up, Wasting Away + Sublime-Doin' Time
"I Travel On Saturdays"
Mutt-Saturdays + Mos Def-Travelin' Man
Hope you like 'em...cause I sure enjoyed making 'em. Tell tomorrow everyone...I leave you with this jem...Peace.
Hey there everyone, and happy Monday to you (is "happy Monday" an oxymoron?) I hope your super weekend was...well...Super!
My'n certainly was, because among other things it was my brotha Justin's birthday this weekend. So Saturday night we hit up Tasty Burger in Boston behind Fenway Park.
Definitely the best burgers I've ever had in my life. If you haven't been...go! And be sure to tell me, so I can come with. I mean, how can you beat amazing burgers made with real ingredients, awesome beers on tap, cheap prices, and a giant wall sized picture of Sam Jackson
?...That's right...you can't!
So after that amazing dinner I went over to Malden to watch the UFC fight. Anderson Silva's first round knockout was totally worth it!
That was it...one kick! DONE! To anyone that caught the fight, didn't it remind you of this classic Chapelle Show moment?
Caught him with the front! Like BLAWO!
So "Super Sunday" rolled around, and I took part in the creation of one of the most epic snack arrangements in the history of snack food...behold! The Snack Stadium!!!
Guacamole turf with sour cream lines, salsa & queso end zones, slim jim goal posts, hotdog players with olive helmets, kit kat "jumbotron", stadium lighting made of granola bars and hershey's kisses, over a dozen types of pretzels, chips, and cookies, and another dozen or so types of candies and other sweets. Not pictured, is the parking lot, with hot dog tailgaters, and cars made of snack cakes and necco waffers, and the giant lollypop "blimp" covering the game below...amazing, I know!
We topped off our epic night of epic creation, with some epic beer pong, some epic flip cup, and watched some semi-epic commercials...oh ya, I think there was some sort of sports game on too. I don't know,we weren't paying attention...
Well with all that awesome this weekend, there was barely enough time to do any music, but I managed to squeeze some in.
So what I have here for you, is a quick one-shot drum & bass mix I did when I got back from the Superbowl party last night. Didn't really plan anything in particular for this one, I just kinda made it up on the fly (imagine how awesome it would've sounded if I actually prepared it...) but I'm pretty pleased with the results. It was a lot of fun, and just the thing to cap off an awesome weekend.
So here it is...the "Super Sunday Mix" Hope you enjoy!
Super Sunday Mix (<--- click there for the link to soundcloud.com)
Don't forget to download my mixes with the little down arrow in the soundcloud player. Well, that's it for today. See you all tomorrow, hopefully with some new original material, or a mash-up or two. Tell then...Peace.
Happy Friday everyone! Super excited it's finally the weekend, as I'm sure you are. So I thought I'd make it a great start to this awesome weekend by doing one of my all time favorite people/bands for today's edition of Artist Spotlight, Bonobo.
So if you know me at all, I'm sure you've heard me talk about or play you something from Simon Green a.k.a. Bonobo. I've been listening to Bonobo for going on 8 years now, starting with his first album on Ninja Tune Records, Dial 'M' for Monkey. I was first introduced to his music when I bought the Ninja Tune DVD "ZenTV", which was 2 hours of music videos from Ninja Tune artists. I came across this beautiful tune called "Flutter", and I was immediately hooked. Check it out...
A day after I watched this DVD, I went back down to Newbury Comics, to pick up "Dial 'M' for Monkey," and his previous album, "Animal Magic." I couldn't believe there was such incredibly amazing and intricate electronic music being made when I first heard this. The enchanting melodies, swelling basslines, and incorporation of live instruments blew me away. And to think this was all being done by one person! Too cool. But I'd have to wait another year for more Bonobo music...but it was well worth the wait.
Fast forward to 2005, and Bonobo's release "Live Sessions." I picked this up thinking, "Well this will be fun. I wonder what kind of music he DJs?" To my surprise, he had brought some amazing musicians together, to create a beautiful live act. This 6 track CD, consisting of 4 live tracks, a remix, and a new original track, must have stayed on a constant loop on my iPod for at least two years. But as amazing as the live songs were, and as good as Four Tet remix was, it was his track "Recurring" that grabbed me, and to this day has never let go. 6 years later, it's still my favorite song, and most likely will always be. I hope you can see why...
I can't readily describe to you what that song does to me, but it's something truly awe-inspiringly awesome. It's been there with me through laughter and tears...joy, sorrow and melancholy...times I will treasure forever and times I wish I could forget...and has always made me feel more connected to my surroundings and my environment, and to who I am, and who I'd like to be. It's taken me to many magical places over the years, and I'm so very in love with it, that I'm sure it will continue to do so until there is no physical way for me to listen to it again.
Wow! I've never tried to explain my love for "Recurring" before...that was intense.
Anyways, a short time after that, I did get to hear what Simon Green sounds like as a DJ, with his release of "Solid Steel Presents: It Came From the Sea." This hour long 20 track mix of mostly Ninja Tune artists, was very well spun, and has been entertaining guests at parties and events I've thrown/attended since it's 2005 release.
Click Here (<---YouTube channel w/ all 20 tracks from this mix)
Two and a half years later, (while still listening to Recurring nonstop) I was very excited to hear that Bonobo had dropped a new album called, "Days to Come." This full length album of the "Bonobo band" featured a very talented singer by the name of Bajka. Though this was the first Bonobo tracks to have any lyrics to them, I quickly over came my apprehension, and grew to love this album in it's entirety. It's one of those albums for me, that you'd only skip a song, because you were so psyched about the next one. Here's the title track "Days to Come" from their DVD, Live @ Koko.
Bonobo's latest album, "Black Sands" came out in late March of last year, and I was definitely first in line to pick up my copy. This release was a bit of a blending of old and new. Still had the band, added a new talented young singer named Andreya Triana, but on a few tracks got back to the older style of electronic beat production.
If you've heard our Sophmore & Cadet mash-ups, you've probably heard most of Black Sands. Dave and I utilized almost all the tracks that didn't have Ms.Triana on them. If you haven't, then check out "Kiara" (minus Notorious B.I.G...)
As you might imagine, it was my album of the year, 2010, and for damn good reason. There's not a single track on this album I don't completely love. Here's their music videos for "The Keeper," & "Eyesdown."
In November, Dave and I went to see Bonobo perform at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Absolutely amazing show. Had such a good time that night. Here's a half decent picture I shot with the iphone...
But to give you a little bit more flavor of what it was like, check out this live video of the song, "Stay the Same." (one of my favorites off the album...)
Bonobo's music has truly inspired me, brought me immense joy, and enriched my life over the years. His music has touched many, including my Dad, who passed away late last year. I got to introduce him to Bonobo years ago, and we shared this love of his music to the very end. Recurring was one of his favorite songs to put slideshows of his amazing photography to, and even at his "Celebration of Life" service, Bonobo was on in the back ground.
I will always have incredibly strong emotional ties to his music, be it joyous occasions with friends and loved ones, or amazing memories of time with my father I can look back on fondly. It seems as if Bonobo is and will always be a major contributor to the soundtrack of my life.
He'll be touring around Europe for the next few months, so if you're in the area, and get the chance, it'd be well worth it to go check it out. Also, if you happen to be in or around L.A. on March 24th, you can go see him spin, which I'm sure is amazing as well. Don't forget to check out all of him social media outlets:
Here <--- Official website Here <--- YouTube channel (Ninja Tune) Here <--- FaceBook page Here <--- Twitter Here <--- Myspace page
Well I really hope you've enjoyed this feature, and I hope it shed some light onto my intense love of Bonobo. Have a great weekend everyone! Peace.
Hey everyone! Happy Thursday to you! I hope where ever you are, it's not in the middle of the snowpocalypse. I'm really getting sick of this, and I could totally go on and on about how much I hate winter...but this blog isn't about winter hate. It's about music...but still...
So I'm going to say it was the crappy weather that totally ruined my mood for most of yesterday, and made me miss yesterday's post (which I've been feeling pretty bad about, and for which I'm sorry.) But to atone for this, I bring you a double dose of Thursday's Random & Funny. Let get started!
So have you ever seen TWO rock legend cover a song written by an 11 year old girl? You have now...
Yes...you just watched Neil Young and a very bearded Bruce Springsteen cover Willow Smith's hit song "Whip My Hair" Yikes...what is the world coming to?
Now we get into the amazingly awesome section of R&F. These next three hip-hop flavored videos will blow you away. First up, is the world famous DJ Q-bert. We all know he absolutely kills it with a pair of tables and a mixer...but what would happen if someone super glued his cross fader in the middle? He'd probably just do this...
Sick dude! When I get my new mixer, I'm most likely going to be watching Q-bert videos all day long, trying to pick up some fader technique...not that video though, cause that's just ridiculous. I'm not going to be learning much fader anything from that one.
Speaking of people who are ridiculous with electronic instruments, Dipset producer araabMUZIK is nothing short of mind alteringly amazing with an MPC. Here's a little taste of his skills...
Unreal! I think at one point I couldn't even comprehend how fast his hands were moving. It's stuff like this that make me impulsively drop several hundred dollars on a new piece of equipment. I'd love to even be half that nasty (something to work on for the future.)
We're going to switch to something a little different for the last video of the hip-hop section today. I found this video this morning, and I sat and watched it all the way through...twice! That good!
I mean I'm a huge fan of violin, and also a huge fan of hip-hop, so it seemed like this video was made for me, but it's just too amazing. Paul Dateh & inka one absolutely brought this one together perfectly. This one is going on the iPod for sure...
And now for something completely different! Not a real fan of the music in either of the next two videos (Deadly Rhythm by Refused & Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top) but these videos are worth their weight in gold!
First is The Deadliest Rhythm performed by a guy named Martin, which is a product of police induced bordom.
Some of the best (or at the very least, most energetic) air drumming I've ever seen. Gives you an appreciation for how hard real metal drumming must be.
Last for you today is something so completely awesome, that I couldn't possibly bring you any more videos, cause they would all pale in comparison. This rendition of Sharp Dressed Man by ZZ Top, performed by Rick K and the All Nighters is one of those great moments in video history. Do yourself a favor, and pretend there's no one else on stage but their "mad drummer" Steve Moore. Enjoy...
Can't stop watching that damn video...too good!
Well that raps up this weeks Funny & Random. See you back here tomorrow for another edition of Artist Spotlight, featuring one of my favorites! Catch you later! Peace.
Hey everyone! It's a really snowy Tuesday here in Boston...and apparently this is the first phase of this storm! Another 14-20" expected...Yikes! As someone said to me the other day, "This is getting really old!"
So all this weather has been keeping me indoors for the most part, but it has been great for exploring the internet for cool music, and music related creativeness. And I've found some really cool things for you to check out.
I ran across this site a few days ago called Recyclart.org (<---which you're totally going to want to check out by clicking there) It's content really does what it says on the box. They features incredible art made from old stuff. There's so much awesomeness on that site, I don't possibly have time to show you all of it, but I'll share some of the really cool music related projects I came across this morning.
Some thing that I absolutely want in my life is this "Boomcase."
You guessed it! Old suitcase + old stereo speaker = Boomcase! %100 recycled, %100 iPod compatible, and %100 pure awesome, I'm totally going to need to make one of these for my first music video...I don't even have a track to make a music video yet, but I sure have my first prop.
Next up is something I'm totally getting for every guitarist I know. It's the "Pick Punch."
Any left over plastic you have (credit cards seem to work the best) can simply and easily be made into multiple guitar picks within a few seconds. Too cool.
So what would be really cool to do with an extra snare drum...how bout turning it into a sound activated light?
Super bright LEDs will pour a soft ambient lighting over your space, and as this video will show you, it won't be constantly strobing out on you when you listen to music or make some noise, because it only responds to the actual snare hit. So damn cool!
Now record collectors would probably object to the thought of recycling vinyl, but they might change their tune (get it!?!) after seeing the "Sound Wave"
Literally a wave, sculpted from hundreds of records. Super creative! This is by far one of my favorite modern art piece out there. But if this doesn't do it for you, and you want something a little more practical than a giant record sculpture, then how bout a clock?
This series of record clock sculptures is something I totally want to make/purchase in the near future. I don't really have much wall space, but I'd totally make room for something like this.
Hope you've enjoyed all this awesome music art! Be sure to check out Recyclart.org there's so many truly amazing things people have done with they're free time. Trust me, it's be worth some of yours.
Well I'm off to take a long walk in the snow, then I plan on writing some piano parts for the cousinz band, and maybe another mash-up or two if I can find the time.
I hope you can find the time to go play in the snow, or play with music...or both! See you tomorrow. Peace.
What's the good word everyone?!? I realized as I wrote that, that there probably aren't many, considering it's a cold, dreary monday, and there's been talk of another 14-20 inches of snowfall by mid-week...yuck! But at the very least, I hope you had an awesome weekend like I did!
Among other awesome things that happened this weekend, I went snowboarding for the first time in about 7 years or so. (Check me out!)
Ha! I wish...but that's kinda what it felt like. But at any rate, Me & Justin (& Gabby & Alex & Karen & Jackie & Jonathan) went up to Pat's Peak in Henniker, NH for some night boarding on Saturday. I'd never heard of Pat's Peak before, and was half expecting to show up at some "northern redneck's" house on the side of an uncleared mountain, and for him to be like, "Hey, I'm Pat. Gimme 40 bucks, and /I'll pull you up top on my snowmobile..." or some such sketchiness. But thankfully, we finally arrived to find this...
to which I was very excited! After getting my legs under me (which surprisingly took about 5 minutes) I was totally ready for the big slopes. Within the hour, I thought I was a teenager again, and was totally trying some dumb shit out on the trails (jumps & tricks & such...) which ended in something exactly like this...
only during the night time...and not in Germany. I fell so hard and so fast off that jump, that I landed on my ass, and still had enough momentum to hit my back and knock the wind out of me (still quietly suffering the effects from that one.)
So at this point, you might be asking yourself, "That's cool Johnny...but what the hell does any of this have to do with music?" Well loyal viewer, I'll tell you. I was stupid enough to forget to bring gloves, but what I DID remember to bring, was an iPod!!! I was thinking to myself as I was jamming to some tunes early that morning, "Wow, I bet it'd be really cool to snowboard to this track...Oh wait! I could totally make that happen!"So I set about making a playlist, specifically for my adventure in the snow.
So what follows are some of the highlights of my iPod playlist, "Mountain Music"
[Breakage - Fighting Fires (Loadstar remix)]
[Netsky - The Lotus Symphony]
[Cutline - Die for You (J Majik & Wickaman remix)]
[Talib Qweli - Gutter Rainbows]
[Mutt - Saturdays] <---how appropriate?
[Deadmau5 - Faxing Berlin (Grifta remix)]
[Crissy Chris & Youngman - Kick Snare VIP (Drumstep mix)]
I hope this gives you some awesome new tunes to jam out to the next time you find yourself on the side of a mountain...or on a bus...or at your place. Can't wait to do this again...this was a lot of fun (both the riding, and the writing) Catch you tomorrow! Peace.
Hey everyone! Friday's finally here, and I hope you're all as psyched for the weekend as I am! (if everything goes to plan, it should be an awesome time!) Being Friday, you know what that means here at SCM, another awesome Artist Spotlight!
Today I'm going to be featuring one, Gregg Gillis, better known to the music world as Girl Talk. Now if you've been anywhere near the music scene, and especially the electronic music scene, in the past few years you may have heard of him, or some of his amazing mash-ups.
Girl Talk has been releasing albums of mash-ups about every two years since 2002. His style could be described as a pop culture mosaic, or a top 40 collage, as he takes a dozen or more recognizable songs from all genres and musical eras, and sticks them in "the blender" to create something new and very unique. He doesn't so much create tracks as he does entire albums. The only reason any of his five albums have been split into "tracks" is for easy access to later parts of the mix. When you see what goes into making a "track" like he makes, you can hardly blame him for taking two years per album, all the while (till 07) trying to hold down a job as a biomedical engineer. Check out his process...
Completely awesome! I first saw this video clip in the documentary "RIP: A Remix Manifesto," a documentary about copyright and intellectual property law, surrounding particularly, Girl Talk, and the Disney corporation. Incredible film! If you get a chance, it'd be well worth your time to check it out.
As one could guess, Girl Talk is highly scrutinized for his extreme usage of samples, especially by record companies, who feel like they should be getting payed for every use, of every sample they own the rights to. No legal action has been taken against Gregg, due to his claim of usage under fair use law. And what do the artists that have been sampled generally think about Girl Talk using them in his albums? Generally speaking, they love it! Several of the artists sampled on his latest album, "All Day" put up posts on they're own websites telling people to check out the new Girl Talk album.
Under free use, Girl Talk released his first four albums (Secret Diary, Unstoppable, Night Ripper, & Feed the Animals) through illegal-art.net, for a "pay a price you'd like." His latest release, All Day, is available on illegal art absolutely free! So go grab yourself a copy HERE <---click there
So here's a few fan made videos to give you an idea of what Girl Talk is all about. (These are off the album Feed the Animals)
(No Pause)
(Like This)
(Give Me a Beat)
I've been a huge Girl Talk fan for a few years now, and can't wait to see what's next. He was the driving force behind Sophmore and I coming together on the mash-ups we've been doing. I also can't wait to go check out a Girl Talk live show (I've heard they tend to turn into drunken "pants-off dance-offs"), and hopefully I can grab myself a ticket for the February 23 show at the House of Blues!
Well I hope you've enjoyed my little spotlight on Girl Talk, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Till next week everybody...Peace.
